Jaguar Land Rover Announces Up To 300 UK Job Cuts Amid Restructuring
Company cites US tariffs and cyber attack as factors in 'redeployment and displacement' programme affecting salaried staff.
Callum Smith
Jaguar Land Rover is set to cut up to 300 jobs across its UK operations as part of a significant restructuring initiative.
Jaguar Land Rover is implementing a 'redeployment and displacement' program, impacting fewer than 300 salaried and management roles across its key operational hubs.
Personnel in hourly-paid roles on production lines and factory floors remain explicitly excluded from these reductions, protecting core manufacturing capabilities.
Affected positions concentrate in Solihull, Gaydon, Wolverhampton, and Coventry, all within Jaguar Land Rover’s substantial West Midlands presence. The company, employing 33,000 people in the UK, cites US tariffs and a devastating cyberattack as primary drivers for the restructure.
A JLR spokesperson confirmed ongoing transformation initiatives, stating, 'As we evolve our operating model to accelerate the growth of our House of Brands and deliver our next-generation vehicles, we are transforming our business to improve decision-making and performance.'
The spokesperson further elaborated on the program, confirming, 'As part of our ongoing transformation initiatives, we have launched a limited redeployment and displacement programme.'
Impacted colleagues will receive support to find alternative roles wherever possible; the company also offers the option of voluntary early exit.
This restructuring follows a dramatic profit slump for the company, with reported profits plummeting to £14m from a previous £2.5bn, a decline of over 99% year-on-year.
A major cyberattack in August 2023 disrupted JLR's systems and factories for weeks, causing significant operational challenges across its network.
The overall cost of the cyberattack and subsequent loss of manufacturing reaches an estimated £1.9bn; the carmaker reportedly halted production at its UK factories for five weeks from September 1, 2023.
Jaguar Land Rover claims the cyberattack in 2023 disrupted its factories for months, creating a dire knock-on impact on its local supply chain, with disruption still ongoing.
The company also claims the cyberattack weighed on sales in late 2023, leading to heavy financial losses.
Des Quinn of Unite the union affirmed the union's commitment, stating, 'Any of our members that need support will have the full support of Unite the union.'
Any of our members that need support will have the full support of Unite the union.
The carmaker previously announced plans to cut around £1.7 billion in costs over the coming years, measures that include reductions in materials, warranty, and fixed costs.
Jaguar Land Rover claims volumes for the year were dragged lower by the impact of US tariffs, alongside 'market challenges' in China and the planned 'wind down' of a number of outgoing Jaguar models.
The decision to exclude production line workers from these cuts reflects a strategic imperative, maintaining operational continuity despite the broader restructuring.
The focus on salaried staff indicates a recalibration of administrative and strategic functions within the company, aligning with its stated goal to improve decision-making and performance.
The company expects fewer than 300 people to leave the firm under the plans, a figure consistent with the confirmed cuts of up to 300 jobs.