Jaguar Land Rover to 'cut up to 1,000 jobs' in Solihull - The Solihull Observer

Jaguar Land Rover to 'cut up to 1,000 jobs' in Solihull

Solihull Editorial 13th Apr, 2018 Updated: 16th Apr, 2018   0

JAGUAR Land Rover is cutting up to 1,000 jobs in Solihull, according to reports.

The luxury car manufacturer could shed agency staff due to the fall in demand for diesel models and the increasing pressures of Brexit.

The company’s Solihull plants in Lode Lane – which employs over 10,000 people – is believed to be where job losses will occur.

It is believed some temporary agency staff will not have their contracts renewed.




An announcement could be made on Monday, reports say.

In January, the company cut back production at its Castle Bromwich plant because of ‘challenges facing the car industry’.


And there have been a series of planned shut downs since then.

A statement from Jaguar Lane Rover (JLR) said: “As is standard business practice, Jaguar Land Rover regularly reviews its production schedules to ensure market demand is balanced globally.

“On Monday we will be cascading our 18/19 production plans for the next fiscal year to our workforce.

“In light of the continuing headwinds impacting the car industry, we are making some adjustments to our production schedules and the level of  agency staff.

“We are however continuing to recruit large numbers of highly skilled engineers, graduates and apprentices as we over-proportionally invest in new products and technologies.

“We also remain committed to our UK plants in which we have invested more than £4bn since 2010 to future proof manufacturing technologies to deliver new models.”

A spokesperson for the company at the time of cut backs in January said: “The automotive industry continues to face a range of challenges which are adversely affecting consumer confidence.

“Ongoing uncertainty surrounding Brexit is being felt by customers at home, with demand for new cars down 5.7 per cent in 2017, and in Europe where collectively we sell approximately 45 per cent of total UK production.

“Add to this, concern around the future of petrol and diesel engines, and general global economic and political uncertainty and it’s clear to see why the industry is seeing an impact on car sales.”

The figure of 1,000 jobs being affected is reported by ITN, but JLR has refused to comment on speculative figures.

Responding to the announcement Jaguar Land Rover have blamed Brexit for the ‘slump’, former Solihull MP and Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords Lorely Burt said: “The throttling back is in response to Brexit and falling demand for diesel models is having an impact on the economy.

“You can litterally see the Midlands Engine of our economy spluttering because of Brexit.

“But that spluttering means jobs, investment and growth.  The motor industry is the jewel in the crown of UK manufacturing.

“Before the Brexit vote, JLR was a superb success story and jobs and the supply chain companies were growing strongly.

“But thanks to Brexit, and issues over Diesel engines, these challenges have caused serious challenges for JLR.  They will over time grow again but businesses are facing a Brexit headwind.”

Julian Knight MP for Solihull said: “The news that has come to us today, from Jaguar Land Rover is disturbing, and I am in regular contact with JLR on this issue.

“More generally, I think it is a mistake for the green lobby to propose measures against diesel vehicles which are often less polluting than other vehicles, and where there are relatively easy fixes in place in order to reduce emissions.

“The demonisation of diesel is now having very real consequences for the UK car industry, which is key to Britain’s growth.”

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