US
car giant Ford is set to discuss the fate of its Jaguar plant in Coventry
with trade unions tomorrow.
The
Brown’s Lane factory employs 2,000 people, but Jaguar has seen demand for its
models drop in its key market in the US,
and has been looking at ways of reducing costs.
The
company said that no decision had been taken on the fate of the plant, but said
it was considering all possible options.
Ford
recently reconsidered closing its Land Rover plant in Birmingham
after reaching an agreement with unions on a plan to make it more competitive
and safeguard 8,000 jobs.
During
those negotiations, Ford management said that it wanted to make Land Rover as
competitive as the company’s Jaguar operations within three years, and as
competitive as other global car makers within five years.
The
three sites in the UK
making Jaguars – Brown’s Lane in Coventry,
Castle Bromwich in the West Midlands,
and Halewood on Merseyside – have been operating below capacity.
Workers’
representatives said that despite the recent problems they hoped an agreement
could be reached.
