Jaguar Land Rover set to axe thousands of jobs

The UK's biggest car maker, which manufacturers its engines at the i54 site in Wolverhampton, is believed to be preparing to implement turnaround plans that could result in the loss of up to 5,000 jobs.

The company employs 40,000 in the UK and has already cut 1,000 temporary contract workers at its plant in Solihull, which builds Range Rovers and the Land Rover Discovery SUV.

It has also reduced working hours for some workers, including at its Wolverhampton factory in the run-up to Christmas.

Plans for further job cuts come after the firm, which is owned by the Indian Tata Motors group and is a major employer in the West Midlands, made a £90 million loss in the three months to September, hit by falling sales in China and Europe.

In an attempt to turn around its ailing fortunes the company announced plans in October to save £2.5 billion, including £1 billion of cost cuts, but did not say how many jobs would be lost.

According to reports, several people close to the carmaker said JLR will outline in January the short-term element of its plan, including the loss of up to 5,000 jobs.

Tata Motors has appointed Boston Consulting Group to put together the turnaround plan.

The carmaker said: “Jaguar Land Rover notes media speculation about the potential impact of its ongoing charge and accelerate transformation programmes.

“As announced when we published our second-quarter results, these programmes aim to deliver £2.5 billion of cost, cash and profit improvements over the next two years. Jaguar Land Rover does not comment on rumours concerning any part of these plans.”

The plan to revive the fortunes of the luxury carmaker includes a reduction in annual investment from £4.5 billion to £4 billion this year and next, and a reduction in the stock of finished cars it holds and its working capital by £500 million.

It will also cut £1 billion in costs. and has already introduced a freeze on recruitment and all non-essential travel, as it battles falling demand.