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| Ford set to close Bridgend engine plant in 2020 | Ford set to close Bridgend engine plant in 2020 |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Ford's engine plant in Bridgend is set to close in autumn 2020, with the loss of 1,700 jobs. | Ford's engine plant in Bridgend is set to close in autumn 2020, with the loss of 1,700 jobs. |
| Union officials were told of the plans at a meeting with Ford bosses which include the offer of redeployment. | Union officials were told of the plans at a meeting with Ford bosses which include the offer of redeployment. |
| Workers were sent home after receiving a letter which said they will lose their jobs in phases from 25 September next year. | |
| Ford blamed "changing customer demand and cost" for the closure plans and denied Brexit was a factor. | Ford blamed "changing customer demand and cost" for the closure plans and denied Brexit was a factor. |
| In a statement, Ford of Europe president Stuart Rowley said: "Creating a strong and sustainable Ford business in Europe requires us to make some difficult decisions, including the need to scale our global engine manufacturing footprint to best serve our future vehicle portfolio. | In a statement, Ford of Europe president Stuart Rowley said: "Creating a strong and sustainable Ford business in Europe requires us to make some difficult decisions, including the need to scale our global engine manufacturing footprint to best serve our future vehicle portfolio. |
| "We are committed to the UK. However, changing customer demand and cost disadvantages, plus an absence of additional engine models for Bridgend going forward make the plant economically unsustainable in the years ahead." | "We are committed to the UK. However, changing customer demand and cost disadvantages, plus an absence of additional engine models for Bridgend going forward make the plant economically unsustainable in the years ahead." |
| Later, he said the decision was nothing to do with Brexit although he realised the company's plans would be "very significant for the employees, their families and the community in south Wales". | Later, he said the decision was nothing to do with Brexit although he realised the company's plans would be "very significant for the employees, their families and the community in south Wales". |
| Mr Rowley has confirmed the company will repay £11m in incentives offered by Welsh Government. | Mr Rowley has confirmed the company will repay £11m in incentives offered by Welsh Government. |
| Workers at the plant said they were devastated. | Workers at the plant said they were devastated. |
| Tony Phillips, who has been at the plant for 31 years, said: "I'm expecting to lose my job," adding that they were "good, well-paid jobs". | Tony Phillips, who has been at the plant for 31 years, said: "I'm expecting to lose my job," adding that they were "good, well-paid jobs". |
| Fellow worker Mark Lendrum said: "South Wales is going to be like a ghost town." | Fellow worker Mark Lendrum said: "South Wales is going to be like a ghost town." |
| Leader of Bridgend council Huw David, said there is "not a family in Bridgend that won't be affected by this" and it is a "fabulous workforce" from Newport to Llanelli. | |
| "We don't know how we are going to recover from this. | |
| "Both governments want to keep the jobs here. We as the council will help people to find other work," he said. | |
| The closure news comes just months after Ford said it was cutting its Welsh workforce by 1,000, with 370 going in a first phase. | The closure news comes just months after Ford said it was cutting its Welsh workforce by 1,000, with 370 going in a first phase. |
| Investment in a new Dragon petrol engine was scaled back, while production of an engine for Jaguar Land Rover is due to end this year. | Investment in a new Dragon petrol engine was scaled back, while production of an engine for Jaguar Land Rover is due to end this year. |
| Just days ago, it was revealed that car sales in the UK fell again. | Just days ago, it was revealed that car sales in the UK fell again. |
| GMB regional organiser Jeff Beck said: "We're hugely shocked by today's announcement. It's a real hammer blow for the Welsh economy and the community in Bridgend." | GMB regional organiser Jeff Beck said: "We're hugely shocked by today's announcement. It's a real hammer blow for the Welsh economy and the community in Bridgend." |
| He said the union would continue to work with Ford, other unions and the Welsh Government "to find a solution to the issue and mitigate the effects of this devastating news". | He said the union would continue to work with Ford, other unions and the Welsh Government "to find a solution to the issue and mitigate the effects of this devastating news". |
| Unite union general secretary Len McCluskey said Ford had treated its UK workers "abysmally". | Unite union general secretary Len McCluskey said Ford had treated its UK workers "abysmally". |
| "The fact remains that it is cheaper, easier and quicker to sack our workers than those in our competitor countries," he said, vowing to "resist this closure with all our might". | "The fact remains that it is cheaper, easier and quicker to sack our workers than those in our competitor countries," he said, vowing to "resist this closure with all our might". |
| How Ford came to Bridgend | How Ford came to Bridgend |
| Ford chose Bridgend for its new engine plant in the summer of 1977 after competition from elsewhere in Europe, chiefly from Ireland. | Ford chose Bridgend for its new engine plant in the summer of 1977 after competition from elsewhere in Europe, chiefly from Ireland. |
| The company needed an engine for its new model - code-named Erika - which became the next generation Ford Escort, and would be built at Halewood on Merseyside and at Saarlouis in Germany from 1980. | The company needed an engine for its new model - code-named Erika - which became the next generation Ford Escort, and would be built at Halewood on Merseyside and at Saarlouis in Germany from 1980. |
| The promise was 2,500 jobs but, by the time it opened in May 1980, Ford had decided to take on only 1,400 workers with 22,000 people applying for the roles. | The promise was 2,500 jobs but, by the time it opened in May 1980, Ford had decided to take on only 1,400 workers with 22,000 people applying for the roles. |
| Concerns about the plant's long term future were raised more than a decade ago when the decision was taken to no longer have Ford UK and Ford Europe making different designs of cars compared with the USA and rest of the world. | Concerns about the plant's long term future were raised more than a decade ago when the decision was taken to no longer have Ford UK and Ford Europe making different designs of cars compared with the USA and rest of the world. |
| Electric move | Electric move |
| Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said he knew it was an "extremely worrying and uncertain time for Ford workers, their families in Bridgend and the surrounding communities". | Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said he knew it was an "extremely worrying and uncertain time for Ford workers, their families in Bridgend and the surrounding communities". |
| "The UK government will work closely with Ford, the trade unions and the Welsh Government, to make sure this highly-valued workforce can move into new skilled employment." | |
| Earlier, Mr Cairns told BBC Wales he had been in touch with Welsh Economy Minister Ken Skates about exploring the production of electric vehicles as a means of protecting jobs in the Bridgend area. | Earlier, Mr Cairns told BBC Wales he had been in touch with Welsh Economy Minister Ken Skates about exploring the production of electric vehicles as a means of protecting jobs in the Bridgend area. |
| Mr Skates said the Welsh Government would provide a "rapid response taskforce to support workers". | Mr Skates said the Welsh Government would provide a "rapid response taskforce to support workers". |
| Since 1978 about £140m in taxpayers' money has been invested in the plant, he said. | Since 1978 about £140m in taxpayers' money has been invested in the plant, he said. |
| That had been "money well spent" since the plant had "pumped back" £3bn into the Bridgend economy over the last ten years alone, Mr Skates said. | |
| "What we have repeatedly said to Ford over recent months and years is that Wales stands ready, it is perfectly situated and positioned to help businesses." | |
| First Minister Mark Drakeford said the news was "incredibly sad", and pledged the Welsh Government would do "everything in its power" to support those affected and to "work with all partners to explore options for the future of the plant". | First Minister Mark Drakeford said the news was "incredibly sad", and pledged the Welsh Government would do "everything in its power" to support those affected and to "work with all partners to explore options for the future of the plant". |
| Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said closure would be "one of the most bitter blows" to the Welsh economy for more than 30 years. | Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said closure would be "one of the most bitter blows" to the Welsh economy for more than 30 years. |
| "The implications of this in terms of the supply chain in terms of job losses is very, very grave indeed," he added. | "The implications of this in terms of the supply chain in terms of job losses is very, very grave indeed," he added. |
| Timeline | Timeline |
| 2008: Ford announces it will operate as a single global company - meaning its Bridgend engine plant had to compete with the firm's other factories across the world, not just in Europe | 2008: Ford announces it will operate as a single global company - meaning its Bridgend engine plant had to compete with the firm's other factories across the world, not just in Europe |
| 2015: Bridgend secures investment for Dragon petrol engine project - with 250,000 engines a year, although it has capacity for 750,000 a year | 2015: Bridgend secures investment for Dragon petrol engine project - with 250,000 engines a year, although it has capacity for 750,000 a year |
| 2016: The planned Dragon investment is reduced to £121m and the number of engines is cut in half to 125,000 | 2016: The planned Dragon investment is reduced to £121m and the number of engines is cut in half to 125,000 |
| 2017: Ford projects a reduction of 1,160 workers by 2021 and confirms production of Jaguar Land Rover engines - which involves half the workforce - will end in 2020 | 2017: Ford projects a reduction of 1,160 workers by 2021 and confirms production of Jaguar Land Rover engines - which involves half the workforce - will end in 2020 |
| 2018: Workers making Jaguar engines face a five-day shutdown as a knock-on effect from JLR's temporary production halt. Ford's European boss warns a no-deal Brexit would be "pretty disastrous" | 2018: Workers making Jaguar engines face a five-day shutdown as a knock-on effect from JLR's temporary production halt. Ford's European boss warns a no-deal Brexit would be "pretty disastrous" |
| Jan 2019: Ford plans to cut 370 jobs the first phase of redundancies which will total 990 by 2021. The Dragon project was scheduled to employ about 500 | |
| June 2019: Ford announces it plans to close the plant in September 2020 citing three reasons - the phasing out of one engine model, the end of Jaguar Landrover contract and a decline in the demand for the new 3-cylinder engine | |
| What's happening to the car industry? | What's happening to the car industry? |
| Several car companies with UK factories have recently announced significant changes: | Several car companies with UK factories have recently announced significant changes: |
| The car industry's problems have been blamed, in part, "because the trade future is uncertain with Brexit," according to consultant Anne-Marie Blaisden. | The car industry's problems have been blamed, in part, "because the trade future is uncertain with Brexit," according to consultant Anne-Marie Blaisden. |
| There is a "very difficult business backdrop" for car makers to negotiate, said the head of autos research for Fitch Solutions. | There is a "very difficult business backdrop" for car makers to negotiate, said the head of autos research for Fitch Solutions. |
| But she said there had also been a "shift away from what is being made at the moment, in terms of diesel cars". | But she said there had also been a "shift away from what is being made at the moment, in terms of diesel cars". |
| "It takes a lot of investment so they have to think years in advance about whether they've got the supply chain, whether they've got the skills." | "It takes a lot of investment so they have to think years in advance about whether they've got the supply chain, whether they've got the skills." |
| Analysis by James Williams, BBC Wales Brexit correspondent | Analysis by James Williams, BBC Wales Brexit correspondent |
| It's the Brexit equivalent of a Rorschach test - you can interpret the inkblot or decision in different ways. | It's the Brexit equivalent of a Rorschach test - you can interpret the inkblot or decision in different ways. |
| Those who want to see us stay in the EU see Brexit as a factor in Ford Bridgend's closure, whilst Brexiteers point the finger of blame at the wider pressures bearing down on the automotive industry - from a shift to electric cars to falling demand from China. | Those who want to see us stay in the EU see Brexit as a factor in Ford Bridgend's closure, whilst Brexiteers point the finger of blame at the wider pressures bearing down on the automotive industry - from a shift to electric cars to falling demand from China. |
| Ford announced back in December that it was restructuring its operations right across Europe. | Ford announced back in December that it was restructuring its operations right across Europe. |
| As part of that change, a plant in Bordeaux in France is to be closed and thousands of jobs cut in Germany. Brexit, obviously, was not a factor in those decisions. | As part of that change, a plant in Bordeaux in France is to be closed and thousands of jobs cut in Germany. Brexit, obviously, was not a factor in those decisions. |
| Given that context, here in Wales and the UK, the additional issue of Brexit and the ongoing uncertainty over what kind of economic relationship we'll have with EU's single market doesn't help matters. | Given that context, here in Wales and the UK, the additional issue of Brexit and the ongoing uncertainty over what kind of economic relationship we'll have with EU's single market doesn't help matters. |
| Nissan, when it announced its decision to move production from Sunderland to Japan, said Brexit uncertainty is not helping them "plan for the future" whilst Honda said that its plant closure in Swindon wasn't related to our departure from the EU. | Nissan, when it announced its decision to move production from Sunderland to Japan, said Brexit uncertainty is not helping them "plan for the future" whilst Honda said that its plant closure in Swindon wasn't related to our departure from the EU. |
| Have you been made redundant by Ford during its time at Bridgend? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been made redundant by Ford during its time at Bridgend? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |