Jaguar Land Rover extends planned shutdown over Brexit concerns

Jaguar Land Rover has announced plans to close its UK plants for an extra week in April due to the potential disruption caused by Brexit.

The car giant’s three assembly plants, in Solihull, Halewood and Castle Bromwich, and its engine plant in Wolverhampton were all due to close from 15-23 April as part of planned annual maintenance programme.

But the firm today said the plants would also shut from 8-12 April.

It comes amid growing uncertainty over Brexit and following the crushing Commons defeat of Theresa May’s deal earlier this month.

BMW has also confirmed its Mini plant in Oxford will close for a month following Brexit, again as part of a planned maintenance programme, and Honda will close factories for six days.

Earlier this month Jaguar Land Rover confirmed plans to cut 4,500 jobs, with the majority coming from its UK workforce, following a slump in demand from China and falling diesel sales.

The car manufacturer said the cost-cutting exercise would bring £2.5bn savings, needed to improve cash flow.

It said the savings would safeguard the company’s future and enable investment in electric cars.