Ford has ceased production on a line at its Bridgend engine manufacturing plant for a week. The line makes engines for Jaguar, which itself ceased production at its Solihull facility last week for two weeks.
A letter sent by Ford's HR department to workers at the Bridgend plant, obtained by WalesOnline, blamed Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull closure for causing a “knock on effect in a reduced demand for the component parts from their supply base”.
The assembly line produces the Jaguar AJ-V8, found in the Jaguar F-Type sports car, the now discontinued Jaguar XJR, and the flagship Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models. It’s built alongside Ford’s own four-cylinder petrol engine in the Welsh plant, which employs more than 1500 staff.
Wales’ First Minister Carwyn Jones has said assurances are being sought from Ford that the move is temporary. The news comes as a number of automotive parts suppliers across Wales initiate shutdowns until Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull plant is back up and running.
The Bridgend plant was last year threatened with a large workforce reduction in 2021 under Ford plans to shrink its production output.
Jaguar Land Rover’s plant closure coincides with it opening a new manufacturing facility in Slovakia, costing £1 billion and already employing 1500 people. It is also operating a three-day week at its Castle Bromwich production line, attributing a decline in sales to ongoing Brexit uncertainty and a slump in demand of diesel cars.
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Jaguar Land Rover boss: Hard Brexit will cost jobs
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I don't understand why they
I don't understand why they don't admit defeat with their engine and buy them in, they obviously are not against this as they are buying Ford engines when needed.
Lots of companies are willing to do this, Mitsubishi used to buy VW engines, lots of brands have used Mercedes engines, Volvo's once used Mitsubishi engines, Nissan use Renault and so on.
Perhaps they should ask someone who they don't directly compete with to make them some nice low emission engines for them, like Honda or Mazda or Alfa or Dyson.
Can't help using that B word.
They just had to mention Brexit. Slovakian plant planned before Brexit was a word. Owners wanted to close JLR plant back in 2000 only to be reversed after talks with unions with a 20 year plan (due to end 2020). And tens of thousands of jobs lost after Ford closed down most of it's UK plants whilst we were part of the European union.
Brexit has nothing whatsoever to do with this story. Why don't the press challenge people who say it does or do the press have an agenda to fill too?
scotty5 wrote:
Agree scotty5, it has nothing to do with Brexit. If a company is struggling management and most media blame Brexit, yet if Brexit is the cause of any woe, then surely Brexit is also responsible for those companys that are doing very well?
As said above, it's all about
As said above, it's all about mismanagement - failure to see what's coming. In my 60 years, I've seen it countless times from people who are paid a LOT of money to manage. Most managers are out of their depth - that includes the management at JLR. As they require massive investment, I fear JLR has peaked. British car manufacturing will be small (but still profitable) manufacturers, like McLaren.
Small vans: they are in incredible demand. But you have to go German or French. Why has no UK manufacturer looked at the small van market, which just keeps growing? Make a Focus-sized van and the world will beat a path to your door. These are no small beer, they're selling for £20,000 now. That's decent profit from what is a basic vehicle to manufacture. But 'all' we have is McLaren, AC, Ginetta, Morgan, Westfield, Noble... All staying afloat, but we need a major manufacturer to start making Mokka-type cars and small vans. We need a rich Brit who understands that there is massive engineering talent here, and a market for a British car/van. I can't be the only one who wants to buy British if I can (and I can't).