The announcement came just hours before Jaguar-Land Rover bosses met with the British government to plead for federal aid. It also brings Jaguar-Land Rover’s total job losses for the year to 1,450. The company still employs roughly 15,000 people in the UK, however more jobs are expected to be shed if sales remain low, reports The Telegraph.
"It is a difficult decision but it is part of us taking responsible and rapid actions for the future of the business," a spokesman said. "The car industry globally is probably the sector most severely affected by the current economic climate, and the premium end we are in is even more so."
A previous cutback eliminated two shifts at the Solihull production facility, and this time both the Solihull and Merseyside plants will be affected. The Merseyside Halewood facility is expected to be idled for at least a week in the coming month to help draw down production of the X-Type and Land Rover Freelander.
Despite the tough conditions - with no end in sight - Jaguar-Land Rover is planning a range of new models to help rejuvenate its product lineup, especially on the car side of the shop, and move its image back up-market. Some of those cars include an XF-R version of the XF sedan, a facelifted XKR, and an all-new generation of the legendary-but-aging XJ.
Reader Comments
Thu Nov 6 2008 10:52 AM
Edward says
And they still live in the fantasy world of seeing the XF produced beyond this year???LOL!!!
Fri Nov 28 2008 10:18 AM
pcread says
This article is misleading. It places the emphasis on Jaguar, but Solihull is the Land Rover factory. Sales of gas guzzling SUVs are down, but the XF is bucking the market trend.
The banks should start lending the public some of the billions the governments bailed them out with, so people can get a car loan.
Fri Nov 28 2008 11:36 PM
www.mywheelsonwalls.com says
Pcread- I would agree. Add to the fact that the Hailwood plant only produces the X-type which is also heading into the sunset with no replacement in the wings. So ofcourse production is going to slow as the last thing you need is a dealer network sitting on a bunch of discontinued cars....
Sat Nov 29 2008 12:17 AM
www.mywheelsonwalls.com says
And theres more!! I just checked with a source of mine and X-type is not the only car made at Halewood they also produce the Land Rover LR2. So its safe to say there is a very odd smell about the above article!
Sat Nov 29 2008 12:28 PM
pcread says
Halewood should perk up when the X-Type ceases production and the Land Rover LRX is built there. In the meantime, new Stop/Start technology in the Freelander2/LR2 will give that a boost.
New Jaguar models are set to come on stream from 2010, by which time the current recession will hopefully be on the turn. A spectacular XJ will complete the transition from Geoff Lawson's era of traditional, some say retro, Jaguar design, to the modern Ian Callum reign.
There has been much written about variants on the XF theme, a coupe and a convertible, and a Boxter/CLK competitor sportscar. These may see the light of day in the years after the XJ.
If Tata's pockets are deep enough to see JLR through the recession, the model lineup and eco-technology being developed in the West Midlands will see the brands reach a new zenith some time in the next decade.
Sun Nov 30 2008 2:41 PM
Edward says
pcread, what was wrong with Geoff Lawson? His works are classic. Ian Callum has yet to come up with a single new and original design. The DB he did for Aston Martin, is just a cheap rip-off of Lawson's XK8. And I do not think that Tata has the patience to sit through this recession sitting on Jag-LR's continuing losses.
Mon Dec 1 2008 2:42 PM
pcread says
Edward, Lawsons designs were of their time, but sales figures alone are proof that the magic stopped working years ago. Without the new XK and more importantly, the XF, Jaguar would have died an anemic, cash-starved death. Maybe not by now, but it almost certainly wouldn't have made it through the current recession.
I doubt Sir William Lyons would have approved all those retro designs.
Wed Dec 3 2008 8:09 AM
Edward says
He would not have approved of their designs, but then again he would be there to save the day. ian Callum can not do so. Retro is NOT dead, it just needs to be done well. The Porsche 911, is 50 years old. I am studying design, and I tell you Callum is not an automobile designer, perhaps an excellent design philosopher, but Derek Meddings was better than Callum by far.
Wed Dec 3 2008 8:09 AM
Edward says
He would not have approved of their designs, but then again he would be there to save the day. ian Callum can not do so. Retro is NOT dead, it just needs to be done well. The Porsche 911, is 50 years old. I am studying design, and I tell you Callum is not an automobile designer, perhaps an excellent design philosopher, but Derek Meddings was better than Callum by far.
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