Jaguar Land Rover has today confirmed it is cutting 4,500 jobs, with the majority coming from its 40,000 strong UK workforce.
Reported by BBC, most of those affected will be in office roles as the company wants to simplify its management structure. The cuts come on top of last year’s 1,500 job losses.
JLR is currently facing several challenges, including a slump in demand for diesel cars and a slowdown in China.
The firm have openly discussed their concerns about Brexit over the last year. They openly expressed that the uncertainty would eventually take its toll on the perception of the UK as a stable and competitive base for global manufacturing.
“We are taking decisive action to help deliver long-term growth, in the face of multiple geopolitical and regulatory disruptions as well as technology challenges facing the automotive industry,” said JLR’s chief executive, Ralf Speth.
JLR, the UK’s biggest vehicle maker, says it will be making further investment in electrification. Electric drive units are set to be produced at Wolverhampton, and a new battery assembly centre will be established at Hams Hall, Birmingham.
Unite, the country’s largest manufacturing union, said it would be pressing the car maker to safeguard its members’ jobs.
“Britain’s car workers have been caught in the crosshairs of the government’s botched handling of Brexit, mounting economic uncertainty and ministers’ demonisation of diesel, which along with the threat of a no deal Brexit, is damaging consumer confidence,” Unite national officer Des Quinn said.
“Government ministers need to wake up and start doing more to support UK’s car workers.”
JLR has made plans for a voluntary redundancy scheme, to help manage the latest round of job cuts.
This is of course a shock to many of those working at Jaguar Land Rover and we are deeply saddened to hear of the extent of jobs that will be at risk.
If you are concerned about your future in your current role, InAutomotive has over 5,000 automotive jobs available on our website. Hopefully we can help you find something.
Image credit: Jaguar Land Rover
