Automobile Magazine
Daily Post - April 15, 2003
JAGUAR yesterday played down fears over the future of its X-Type model following news of a planned shutdown in production at Halewood in February.
A worldwide economic slump in orders for the vehicle, dubbed the Baby Jag, has led bosses to revise their original production target of 75,000 X-Types this year - a figure that would have matched last year's output.
It was reported yesterday that this figure may have been cut by as much as 11,000 leading to a shutdown lasting up to three weeks.
Around 3,000 people are employed at the plant and those laid off during the shutdown will be paid as usual.
But company spokesman David Crisp told the Daily Post the decision to stop production next month did not have any negative implications for the future.
He would not confirm exactly how long the shutdown would last or how much the production target would be cut by.
He said: "This decision is just a continuation of what we were doing last year - reacting to what is a very competitive market."
A new diesel model is out next year and it's believed buyers may be waiting for that to come out before parting with their cash.
Mr Crisp added: "I think its important to stress there is uncertainty in the market place and a significant shift towards diesel engine products.
"Long term we have a great deal of confidence, but we are reviewing the situation month by month."
A leading academic at the University of Liverpool said last night that he did not share the company's optimism.
Peter Stoney, a senior fellow in economics at the university's management school,said he was concerned Jaguar was struggling to compete in the luxury car market.
"When the new model was launched last year they suddenly found themselves competing with the likes of BMW and Mercedes and that concerned me greatly," he said.
"I think there is more to this decision than just a global turndown. I'm not aware of this happening at any other car manufacturers in the UK"
Daily Post - April 15, 2003
JAGUAR yesterday played down fears over the future of its X-Type model following news of a planned shutdown in production at Halewood in February.
A worldwide economic slump in orders for the vehicle, dubbed the Baby Jag, has led bosses to revise their original production target of 75,000 X-Types this year - a figure that would have matched last year's output.
It was reported yesterday that this figure may have been cut by as much as 11,000 leading to a shutdown lasting up to three weeks.
Around 3,000 people are employed at the plant and those laid off during the shutdown will be paid as usual.
But company spokesman David Crisp told the Daily Post the decision to stop production next month did not have any negative implications for the future.
He would not confirm exactly how long the shutdown would last or how much the production target would be cut by.
He said: "This decision is just a continuation of what we were doing last year - reacting to what is a very competitive market."
A new diesel model is out next year and it's believed buyers may be waiting for that to come out before parting with their cash.
Mr Crisp added: "I think its important to stress there is uncertainty in the market place and a significant shift towards diesel engine products.
"Long term we have a great deal of confidence, but we are reviewing the situation month by month."
A leading academic at the University of Liverpool said last night that he did not share the company's optimism.
Peter Stoney, a senior fellow in economics at the university's management school,said he was concerned Jaguar was struggling to compete in the luxury car market.
"When the new model was launched last year they suddenly found themselves competing with the likes of BMW and Mercedes and that concerned me greatly," he said.
"I think there is more to this decision than just a global turndown. I'm not aware of this happening at any other car manufacturers in the UK"