25/09/2009
Jaguar Land Rover to shut plant
|
|
|
The economic downturn has struck a new blow against car manufacturing after Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) revealed plans to close one of its Midlands plants and shut its final salary pension scheme to new members. After operating at just 60pc of manufacturing capacity because of the slump in the car market, the company will also restructure its pension scheme and consider outsourcing manufacturing to emerging markets. Unions lambasted JLR's plans, accusing the leadership team of being "by far the biggest liability" for the car maker. However, the plans involve no compulsory redundancies, with 800 new jobs created at Halewood in Merseyside for the production of the "baby Range Rover" David Smith, the JLR chief executive, said the plan "recognises the impact" of the downturn and the "opportunities that lie ahead". Meanwhile, Lord Mandelson has written to European Commission claiming that Magna's proposals for Opel and Vauxhall are not "commercially the most viable plan". However, the Canadian car parts group, said: "We have been chosen by a variety of decision makers because we have a concept for Opel which provides good prospects for Opel's future."
|
|
|
|