Now that we’re free (allegedly) from the EU and its complicated rules on state aid for car firms and, in turn, their workers, shouldn’t we at least be discussing the possibility of subsidising them again, just as we heavily subsidised Nissan’s factory in the eighties
Also, we need to be far more honest about the rapid decline in UK car production numbers and the reasons for the freefall. It’s obvious – and then some – that as those aforementioned automotive giants closed their factories, UK PLC’s production volumes suffered, as did the largely blameless workers who were made redundant.
Less obvious but almost as important is the following fact: the remaining UK factories have to be more efficient and productive with more, not fewer, production line workers. Nissan acknowledges this, and is doing something about it by freeing up one of its two Sunderland lines so Chery of China can lease or buy it. Simple, brilliant, entirely logical.
Can we have something similar, please, in the Midlands where Land Rover volumes are far lower than they should be? Also, increased output and improved economies of scale might reduce the extraordinarily high prices being charged for its cars these days.
More importantly, the ongoing stoppage of Jag production is a senseless waste of good factories and workers. I’m seriously wondering if Tata knows what to do with the brand.
Is it time for Jaguar to be sold again, perhaps to a leading Chinese firm that knows nothing about closing production lines and everything about keeping them running, while ensuring the workers are kept busy and enjoy improved job security?
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