Region's car makers suspend production until late April
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), which is headquartered at Garden in Warwickshire, and BMW MINI's Cowley and Swindon plants have both suspended production. JLR says its intends to resume during the week of 20 April, subject to review of the rapidly-changing circumstances. BMW MINI intends to resume on 17 April.
A statement from JLR said: "As a responsible business, Jaguar Land Rover is operating in line with advice from the NHS and Public Health England to minimise the spread of the coronavirus, whilst implementing plans to safeguard its business continuity. The company will work towards an orderly return to production once conditions permit."
Currently, Jaguar Land Rover’s manufacturing plants in Brazil and India continue operating. The company’s joint venture plant in China reopened in the week of 24 February, as life begins to get back to normal in the country.
A statement from BMW MINI said: "This decision is the culmination of a number of factors that are affecting the automotive industry at this time, namely the protection of the health and well-being of our employees, the potential for disruption to our suppliers and to a decline in global market demand. Our workforce is central to our company’s success and we are doing everything we can to support them at this time."
