Jaguar Land Rover to cut 500 jobs at Solihull plant temporarily in run-up to Christmas

Role reductions follow decision to move production of Land Rover Discovery to Slovakia next year

Jaguar Land Rover has announced that it will cut 500 jobs at its Solihull plant in a temporary move ahead of Christmas.

The car maker said it will “make some changes to its production schedule to reflect fluctuating demand globally and forthcoming infrastructure works resulting from the cessation of Discovery”.

Earlier this year, the company confirmed that it was moving production of the Discovery to Slovakia early next year.

The manufacturer’s altered production schedule means that 500 of the Solihull factory’s 1,600-strong workforce could be affected at any time during a two-week period.

In a statement released on Thursday, the group said: “The external environment remains challenging and the company is taking decisive actions to achieve the necessary operational efficiencies to safeguard long-term success.

“To deliver a growing range of electrified cars for our customers we are making tough decisions, but the transformation of the business relies on this.”

Jaguar has issued several warnings over the potential harmful consequences of Brexit on the UK’s motor industry.

Chief executive Ralf Speth has warned that tens of thousands of jobs in the UK motor industry are at risk if a no-deal Brexit goes ahead, and the company recently put workers at its Castle Bromwich plant on a three-day week.

Data released on Thursday showed UK car production dropped almost 10 per cent in October, and output is down 7 per cent in the year so far.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said there “no doubt” that business and consumer uncertainty due to Brexit was having a “significant impact” on the market.

Unite national officer Des Quinn said: “In the long-term the move of Discovery production to Slovakia will bring on stream new models at Solihull and secure the future of the plant for years to come. This investment in new models is a long-term commitment that recognises the skills of a workforce that has worked hard to make Jaguar Land Rover a global success story.

“In the short-term however, Jaguar Land Rover workers and many in the supply chain will have questions about what the transition to the new production and shift changes means for their jobs. Unite will be giving our members maximum support through this time.”

He added: “Unite will continue to work with Jaguar Land Rover and companies in the supply chain to ensure that the transition in production is as painless as possible and that measures to mitigate against job losses are in place to ensure jobs and skills are retained for the future.”

Additional reporting by newswires