Welshman and former Bridgend Engine Plant Manager Kieran Cahill will become chairman Ford of Britain on friday. Fifty-three-year old Cahill will replace Graham Hoare as Board Chair for Ford Motor Company Limited effective 30 April. In this role, Cahill will continue to ensure the board remains effective in setting and implementing the company’s direction and strategy in the UK. He will … [Read more...]
Ford Mondeo production to end in 2022
The familiar Ford Mondeo reaches the end of the road next year. Almost 30 years after it was launched, Ford's medium sized family and reps car will go out of production in Valencia. It was also the basis for the Ford Galaxy large MPV and both are now seen as outdated by the new generation of SUVs such as Kuga and Ford is committed to moving onto all-electric platforms by the end of the … [Read more...]
Ford’s £1M legacy payout to Bridgend
A £1 Million charity payout has been allocated to local communities recommended by workers at the Ford Bridgend Engine plant, which closes next month. A skeleton staff is running down the operation after it stopped making engines in September and the site will close after 40 years of production as part of a reassessment of its European operations. Over half the money will go to local sports … [Read more...]
£100,000 public money to ease impact of Ford withdrawal
A £100,000 investment fund will be set up to help Bridgend and surrounding area recover from the closure of Ford Engine Plant in the autumn. The money will come equally from Welsh Government and the Cardiff Capital Region funds to enable Bridgend County Borough Council study three projects. News of the investment and feasibility studies will be outlined later this morning when Economy Minister … [Read more...]
New plan to energise Welsh automotive sector
A new plan to energise the automotive industry and help it meet future challenges is being developed by the Welsh Government. Economy Minister Ken Skates will outline the new plan at an Automotive Summit at Hensol Castle later today and hours before the Welsh sector's annual networking dinner, where the keynote speaker will be Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer on the eve of opening the car maker's … [Read more...]
Car makers rising concerns over Brexit
European Union car-makers have joined forces to warn of billions of euros in losses in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Groups including the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, the European Association of Automotive Suppliers and 17 national bodies warned of the impact of “no-deal” and the effect on 13.8 million people in the European Union including Britain. Last week, it was said … [Read more...]
JLR lines idled in Bridgend plant
The Jaguar Land Rover petrol line in Ford Bridgend Engine Plant will temporarily suspend work this week. Ford opened the Bridgend Engine Plant to build its own petrol units in 1980 and won the JLR engines contract a decade later. Earlier this year (above) it celebrated making the millionth V6 and V8 engines for the premium brand, but the programme will conclude by 2020 and then BEP will … [Read more...]
New boss at Ford Bridgend Engine Plant
An engineer who started his career with Ford Bridgend Engine Plant has been appointed manager in South Wales. Wallace Yearwood replaces Ian Pearson, who has been there four years and now leaves to become Craiova Plant Site Director and President of Ford of Romania Board of Directors. Wallace Yearwood was previously Director Asia Pacific Powertrain Manufacturing Engineering based in Shanghai, … [Read more...]
JLR engine contract with Ford Bridgend plant to end in 2020
Ford Bridgend Engine Plant will lose the JLR engine build contract in three years. The plant has been making V8 and V6 engines for JLR since 1990 when it was part of the Ford Group but continued after purchase of the luxury brands by Tata. Now Ford has said it has told GMB and Unite of the JLR plan and it will “continue to look at other high technology opportunities for Bridgend in the … [Read more...]
Wales’ Ford workers face ballot on strike
About 2,000 Ford Bridgend Engine Plant workers will next month be asked to consider industrial action over future investment. UNITE leader Len McCluskey visited the plant last month and met workers as part of his national re-election campaign. They told him they were concerned about job losses when production of JLR engines finishes the end of this decade and the plant will only make power … [Read more...]
