JLR factory to close for two weeks 08 | 10 | 2018
JAGUAR LAND ROVER (JLR) has announced its Solihull plant will close for two weeks at the end of October. The company’s decision is a bid to reign in profitability in the face of falling sales. What is also significant is the fact thea news comes less than one month after staff at Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich plant were put on a three-day working week. (Related: Taggarts opens new £12m showrooms)
The factory in Solihull factory is home to Range Rover Sport, Jaguar XE and F-Pace, and recently received a £1.5 billion investment from JLR. The shutdown is being implemented as the company attempts to make “operational efficiencies”. Staff at the plant will continue to be paid during the shutdown.
JLR has been hit by two significant blows in recent months. First the ongoing uncertainties over Brexit led its chief executive, Ralf Speth, to warn “tens of thousands” of job losses may occur if the UK crashes out of the EU without a trade deal.
The other factor to cause concern for the company is the continued downturn in the popularity of diesel engines: JLR’s large cars are dominated by diesel power.
"As part of the company’s continued strategy for profitable growth, Jaguar Land Rover is focused on achieving operational efficiencies and will align supply to reflect fluctuating demand globally as required,” a JLR statement said.
"The decision to introduce a two-week shutdown period later this month at Solihull is one example of actions we are taking to achieve this. Customer orders in the system will not be impacted and employees affected will be paid for the duration of the shutdown."
Related: Land Rover teases two-door coupe
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Jim McGill