UK business minister Jonathan Reynolds will meet Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) CEO this week to discuss reported job cuts at the UK carmaker, Reuters reported on Sunday, citing comments Reynolds made to the BBC. The Times has reported that JLR could cut around 4,000 roles over two years.
Reynolds told the BBC that the government wanted to mitigate job losses but acknowledged that operating conditions for carmakers remained challenging in the UK and across Europe. He said discussions would need to focus on ensuring JLR has the workforce required to remain competitive.
JLR, which employs around 30,000 people in Britain and has its largest plant in Solihull, West Midlands, is owned by India's Tata Motors. The company said it needs to deliver £1.7 billion in savings over the next two years and will open a voluntary redundancy programme.
A JLR spokesperson said the company needs to adapt to changing global market conditions.
JLR Job Cuts Linked To Global Market Pressures
JLR has been affected by US tariffs under President Donald Trump, with the US representing an important market for its Range Rover and Defender models. The company is also facing increased competition from Chinese brands in the UK.
The Times reported that JLR could cut 4,000 roles over two years through a redundancy programme expected to be announced on Monday. The reported reductions would affect a workforce spread across the company's major sites in central and northern England.
The potential job cuts come as the UK government seeks to strengthen domestic manufacturing. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who took office six weeks ago, has said he wants to reindustrialise Britain.
JLR Faces Tariffs And Chinese Competition
Chinese vehicle competition is adding pressure to the UK market, with models such as the Jaecoo 7 gaining sales. The Jaecoo 7 was ranked third among Britain's top-selling cars, according to the Reuters report.
JLR's planned savings programme comes alongside broader restructuring in the European automotive industry. German automaker Volkswagen's supervisory board recently approved a transformation plan involving 50,000 job cuts as the company responds to US tariffs and competition from Chinese manufacturers.