Ford has warned the Prime Minister that it's working on plans to move production out of the UK due to Brexit, according to reports.
The American-owned company's bosses made the warning to Theresa May during a private call with business leaders, The Times has reported.
Ford, which has two plants in the UK and employs around 13,000 staff, revealed it was preparing alternative sites abroad but gave no further information.
It's currently undergoing a massive global restructuring of its business, including its European arm. It's planning a £14 billion cost-cutting programme, involving savings in manufacturing, engineering and purchasing, and will be evaluating its production sites as part of that process.
It recently cut around 400 jobs from its plant in Bridgend, South Wales.
British car industry officials have repeatedly warned of the damage that Brexit could cause. Several manufacturers are working on short-term contingency plans, including bringing forward production halts to just after 29 March, the day Britain is due to leave the European Union.
The Times reported that other businesses delivered a similar warning during the call. Nissan recently scrapped plans to produce the new X-Trail in Sunderland, citing Brexit concerns as well as the downturn in diesel popularity.
In response, May said that the Government is working on a package of financial support for businesses affected by a no-deal Brexit.
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UK car industry: no-deal Brexit could have ‘devastating impact’
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BradP
Wow. A lot of media hype
Wow. A lot of media hype arund brexit. How much of it is true?
soldi
BradP wrote:
For the car industry? Pretty much all of it - but workers in Sunderland, Bridgend, West Midlands all voted for Brexit, so they're all getting there wish, even if it means no jobs in the future!
BradP
soldi]</p><p>[quote=BradP
For the car industry? Pretty much all of it - but workers in Sunderland, Bridgend, West Midlands all voted for Brexit, so they're all getting there wish, even if it means no jobs in the future!
[/quote
True...and the governmant are only doing what the people said. Very short sighted by the british public at the time. Hard to change now.
CarNut170
Absolutely terrible, Ford's plans coming to fruition..
Ford of Britain have been bleeding jobs to the rest of Europe (mainly Germany) for decades.
The vast majority of R+D has left the UK for Germany, vehicles aren't made in the UK at all. The engine plants closing is the logical next step for Ford.
Brexit makes an excellent excuse.
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However, how foolish are Ford to abandon their UK workforce, who have made them an industry leader, who designed, developed, and manufactured the 1.0 ecoboost engine - global engine of the year for 3 years running.
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Admittedly, they still stubbornly refuse to add a coolant level sensor in the interest of keeping costs down, costing them millions in warranty claims due to destroyed engines - but the fact the engine runs for long enough on coolant loss to do the damage it does, actually speaks to the quality of the engine.
TStag
CarNut170 wrote:
Wow another leaver making excuses. Brexit - making you poorer everyday
BradP
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[/quote]
Wow another leaver making excuses. Brexit - making you poorer everyday
[/quote]
There is no way out buddy. It may be affecting the economy but how can you change that??
xxxx
Amazed if FORD employ 13,000 in engine production
Ford employed many more than 10,000 in the UK prior to pulling out of ALL car and Transit production 2013 (whilst in the EU), did they write to the PM then? Thought not.
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
ianp55
Ford In The UK
Does it really matter now,Ford has been trying to get out of Blighty since the formation of Ford Europe nearly fifty years ago,it started with the Granada being made in Germany followed by the Capri. But then again Ford have shed their once dominant UK as well. So what it means is two engine production lines (one set up with large government subsidies) and the other plant a shadow of it's former size. Given the state of the Blue Oval in the US I'd think that the company's number one object is to get shot of it's European operations,if it can get someone to take them off it's hands
289
Ford and Brexit
Yeh, Yeh,Yeh.....good time to bury bad news under a blanket of Brexit fog!
Ford dont give a damn about production in the UK and will inevitably move all production to cheaper labour countries who will no doubt in return offer generous incentives.
Having said that Ford are in a mess, and may not even figure long term in the future of European car manafacturing.
MarkHull
What about the Transit
Sure it has a bearing but also a convenience to cull jobs.
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