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Jaguar Land Rover shutdowns its UK plants over Brexit

April 09, 2019 00:00:00


BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) greeting British Prime Minister Theresa May at the Chancellery in Berlin recently. Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May will visit Berlin today (Tuesday) for talking with German Chancellor Angela Merkel — AFP

LONDON, Apr 08 (Reuters): Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) shuts its UK plants on Monday for five days over Brexit, adding to other shutdowns to leave at least half the country's car production off-line in what could be a pivotal week for Britain's divorce from the EU.

The move by Britain's biggest carmaker, to prepare for any disruption resulting from Brexit, was taken a few months ago at a time when the departure date - since extended to April 12 - was March 29.

Automotive firms face a number of possible risks under a disorderly Brexit, including delays to the supply of ports and finished models, new customs bureaucracy, the need to recertify models and an up to 10 per cent tariff on finished vehicles.

British Prime Minister Theresa May's efforts to obtain a longer extension have also ruined contingency plans for some of them.

Shutdowns are generally organised far in advance so employee holidays can be scheduled and suppliers can adjust volumes, making them hard to move.


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