Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is gearing up to meet the top brass of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and the Unite union to tackle the looming threat of thousands of job cuts at the car manufacturing giant. JLR recently announced, in an exclusive to the BBC, that it’s rolling out a voluntary redundancy program, a year after a debilitating cyber attack that halted production for over a month. While the company hasn’t specified numbers, reports from the Times suggest that as many as 4,000 jobs could be on the chopping block, primarily due to the impact of tariffs and a significant drop in sales.
Reynolds emphasized the importance of mitigating any job losses, acknowledging that “a company the size of JLR, which is a huge British success story, will see fluctuations in employment throughout its business cycle.” He stressed that the discussions are crucial and pointed out that there would be no financial support if it meant simply “bailing people out.” However, he hinted at the possibility of a “long-term investment in the future” that could simplify JLR’s operations, enhance efficiency, and build greater resilience.
Unite’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, didn’t hold back either, stating that the union had been warning about a “perfect storm” brewing for the automotive industry. “It’s been a death by a thousand cuts happening right under the noses of successive governments,” she lamented. She pointed out that the intensifying push for electric vehicle sales targets means manufacturers must ensure a rising percentage of their vehicles sold each year are zero-emission, with the target set to hit 80% by 2030.
Reynolds also mentioned his efforts to provide the industry with more flexibility in achieving these targets, citing ongoing consultations to address the situation. “It’s not where it needs to be, and that’s why we need to act,” he added. In discussions with West Midlands mayor Richard Parker, he explored ways to support JLR and its workforce.
Back in July, JLR had projected that fewer than 300 employees would be affected under its cost-saving measures. Currently, the company employs around 30,000 people in the UK, with about 10,000 staff working at its overseas plants. The cyber attack that struck in September 2025 led to a complete shutdown of JLR’s manufacturing for several weeks, resulting in zero vehicles rolling off the production lines. This incident caused a staggering 27% dip in the company’s overall production and is estimated to have cost around £1.9 billion.
In June, the firm revealed plans to cut approximately £1.7 billion in costs over the coming years to aid its recovery from the cyber attack. At that time, JLR indicated that these savings would largely come from reductions in materials, warranty, and fixed costs. As the discussions unfold, all eyes remain on the future of JLR and its workforce as they navigate these uncertain waters.
Kaynak: Orijinal Haber