JLR has not confirmed the scale of the job cuts, but said they would “simplify” the business and “improve efficiency and build greater resilience”.<\/p>\n
“Today, we informed our colleagues, and trade union partners that JLR is opening a voluntary redundancy programme offering salaried and management team members the opportunity to leave the business,” a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
“We will share further information with our colleagues first.” It did not rule out the prospect of some compulsory redundancies as part of the plans.<\/p>\n
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the union had been warning about a “perfect storm” hanging over the automotive industry for some time.<\/p>\n
“Death by a thousand cuts has been going on under the nose of successive governments,” she said.<\/p>\n
She added there had been “intensive” discussions over the weekend about mitigating jobs losses.<\/p>\n
Reynolds was asked about the impact on the car industry of the UK’s electric vehicle sales target, which means manufacturers must ensure a percentage of the cars they sell each year are zero emissions, with the target rising each year to reach 80% by 2030.<\/p>\n
He said one of the first things he had done as business secretary was give the industry more flexibility to work towards that and said there was a further consultation open on it.<\/p>\n
“It’s not where it needs to be and that’s why we’re willing to change the regulation to work with where consumer demand is and the industry,” he added.<\/p>\n
He said he had also spoken with West Midlands mayor Richard Parker about supporting the business and its staff.<\/p>\n