Business leaders in Birmingham and Solihull today welcomed
Jaguar Land Rover's promise of no compulsory redundancies in their
new business plan.
Jerry Blackett, chief executive of Birmingham and Solihull
Chamber of Commerce (BCI), said: "JLR's new business plan is very
welcome and it's reassuring to know that the company is dedicated
to preserving jobs even with the closure of either the Castle
Bromwich plant or Lode Lane in Solihull.
"This is all part of a plan that recognises changing economic
times, new global competitive benchmarks and the need to respond to
environmental demands through design and technology
advances.
"Production of the new generation of lightweight Jaguars and
Land Rovers and investment in environmental technology will keep
the company at the forefront of global markets.
"It is right that production of the LRX Concept, the smallest
and most fuel-efficient Range Rover, will go to Halesowen in
Liverpool, which possesses the necessary technology expertise for
this model.
"In transferring production to one of its two plants in the West
Midlands, there will be improvements in cost and efficiency.
"With volume growth globally, JLR expect to preserve jobs. And
given new models and improving economic conditions it would not be
surprising if jobs were able to grow in the near future."