Jaguar Landrover closing factories.

[margaret]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/j...down-bqq6gs7jj




The Times September 23 2018
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is considering shutting its factories for several weeks next April in contingency planning for a no-deal Brexit.
Britain’s biggest car maker is understood to be mulling over a similar move to that announced by BMW, which is bringing forward its annual summer shutdown at its Oxford factory to follow the country’s March 29 departure from the EU. JLR’s move would affect about 10,000 workers at four UK factories that build cars and engines.
It reflects growing turmoil in Britain’s car industry, which is on the retreat after several years of blockbuster growth. It has been hurt by weak consumer confidence, Brexit jitters and the slump in demand for diesel engines.
BMW last week told workers it planned to close its Mini factory in Oxford for at least a month from April 1, as a contingency measure against the risk that tariffs and customs checks bring the industry to a grinding halt.
JLR chief executive Ralf Speth has spoken to BMW in recent months and discussed bringing forward its own summer shutdown. The company said: “We are planning for different scenarios while keeping our options open — no final decisions have been taken.”