Ford's European offices were raided by around 100 prosecutors, police officers and tax inspectors in connection with a probe into bribery, corruption and breach of trust, a Cologne prosecutor said on Monday.

Employees of a Ford unit responsible for factory facilities were suspected of favoring certain companies and of receiving a "material advantage" when they awarded contracts, the prosecutor's office said.

Monday's searches focused on a probe of employees at Ford and other local companies and included searches of private apartments, Christina Pohlen, a spokeswoman for the Cologne prosecutor's office said.

A spokesman for Ford said the company is cooperating with authorities and is taking the case "very seriously."

The company said it is overhauling the way contracts are awarded and tightening internal controls.