This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/8272499.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Jaguar to shut one Midlands plant | Jaguar to shut one Midlands plant |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Jaguar Land Rover has said it will close one of its West Midlands plants by the middle of the next decade. | Jaguar Land Rover has said it will close one of its West Midlands plants by the middle of the next decade. |
The firm is considering the closure of either its Castle Bromwich plant in Birmingham or its factory in Solihull. | The firm is considering the closure of either its Castle Bromwich plant in Birmingham or its factory in Solihull. |
About 800 new jobs will be created at its Halewood plant on Merseyside, which will start building a new Range Rover. | About 800 new jobs will be created at its Halewood plant on Merseyside, which will start building a new Range Rover. |
The company, which is owned by Indian giant Tata, said there would be no net job losses, but unions said they would oppose the plans. | The company, which is owned by Indian giant Tata, said there would be no net job losses, but unions said they would oppose the plans. |
"We are now in a meeting with the company to hear details of their plans," said Bert Hill, regional officer at the GMB union. | "We are now in a meeting with the company to hear details of their plans," said Bert Hill, regional officer at the GMB union. |
"The GMB will be opposing everything we have heard so far. We will fight the company on this - of that I have no doubt," he added. | "The GMB will be opposing everything we have heard so far. We will fight the company on this - of that I have no doubt," he added. |
Jaguar Land Rover did say that there would be "natural wastage" of staff or transfers from one site to the other. | |
Increasing competitiveness | Increasing competitiveness |
The firm said the new Range Rover model planned for Halewood, the LRX Concept, would be "the smallest, lightest and most efficient vehicle the company has ever produced". | The firm said the new Range Rover model planned for Halewood, the LRX Concept, would be "the smallest, lightest and most efficient vehicle the company has ever produced". |
BBC chief economics correspondent Hugh Pym said Jaguar Land Rover was seeking to consolidate its operations in the West Midlands. | BBC chief economics correspondent Hugh Pym said Jaguar Land Rover was seeking to consolidate its operations in the West Midlands. |
One of the reasons for consolidating on the one site is because the firm wants to build a new production line for lightweight vehicles and it makes more sense to do that in one plant, rather than two, he said. | One of the reasons for consolidating on the one site is because the firm wants to build a new production line for lightweight vehicles and it makes more sense to do that in one plant, rather than two, he said. |
Jaguar Land Rover currently employs about 5,000 workers in Solihull, 2,000 in Castle Bromwich and 1,800 at Halewood. | Jaguar Land Rover currently employs about 5,000 workers in Solihull, 2,000 in Castle Bromwich and 1,800 at Halewood. |
The carmaker will decide in the next 12 to 18 months which plant it will close. | The carmaker will decide in the next 12 to 18 months which plant it will close. |
It said the plan was designed to increase the firm's competitiveness, drive growth and sustain profitability. | It said the plan was designed to increase the firm's competitiveness, drive growth and sustain profitability. |
Commitment welcomed | Commitment welcomed |
"This is a plan that recognises the impact the economic collapse has had on our business, and at the same time the opportunities that lie ahead for these two great brands," said chief executive David Smith. | "This is a plan that recognises the impact the economic collapse has had on our business, and at the same time the opportunities that lie ahead for these two great brands," said chief executive David Smith. |
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said he welcomed "the commitment that Tata is showing in the highly-skilled workforce employed by Jaguar Land Rover in the West Midlands and Merseyside, as well as the top-class models it produces". | Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said he welcomed "the commitment that Tata is showing in the highly-skilled workforce employed by Jaguar Land Rover in the West Midlands and Merseyside, as well as the top-class models it produces". |
Last month, Tata announced that it had secured private funding for Jaguar Land Rover and would not need government support. | Last month, Tata announced that it had secured private funding for Jaguar Land Rover and would not need government support. |
It had previously spent months negotiating with the British government for state funding, but the two sides failed to agree terms. | It had previously spent months negotiating with the British government for state funding, but the two sides failed to agree terms. |
Do you work for Jaguar? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments using the form below. | Do you work for Jaguar? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments using the form below. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |