The future of Nissan Sunderland is expected to be outlined at the end of May. The UK plant builds cars for the UK and Europe and the Japanese car maker is preparing a new global production plan which will see a 20% reduction in capacity and that is expected to see it concentrate on the Far East and USA. There was a report this week that it is about to announce the closure of its pickup and ev … [Read more...]
Ford Bridgend Engine Plant still working – for now
Ford Bridgend Engine Plant will continue producing contracted petrol V6 and V8 units for Jaguar Land Rover for as long as it can, the company has told media. JLR said it had enough parts in stock to build cars until the end of this week at least, possibly longer. It also uses petrol and diesel engines from its own plant in the West Midlands. Nissan has announced today it is suspending … [Read more...]
Ford battered by Welsh registrations
New car dealers in Wales did better than most and saw the smallest decline in January registrations, down just 2.14% to 5,224 over 12 months previously. Ford was comprehensively knocked off top spot by Vauxhall with Corsa and Grandland X a long way ahead of the traditional best selling Fiesta and Focus models, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The Golf was just behind … [Read more...]
£500M “good” for Aston Martin & St Athan, Welsh Minister
Aston Martin’s St Athan project is rolling ahead and another 300 people are being interviewed for jobs as a further £500M investment is raised for the company today, writes Robin Roberts. A business consortium led by motor sport billionaire and Racing Point F1 team’s Canadian owner Lawrence Stroll has bought 45.6m new ordinary shares to make him executive chairman. This will bring in £182M and a … [Read more...]
Five companies interested in whole Ford Bridgend site
Five major international companies have expressed interest in taking over the whole of the Ford Bridgend Engine Plant site, it was revealed today, writes Robin Roberts. They are among 21 businesses who have asked for details of the 1.2M sqft site when Ford end production there in September, said Welsh Economy Minister Ken Skates after meeting the Ford Bridgend Task Force seeking future use of the … [Read more...]
Grenadier steps up development of Welsh off-roader
One of the world's leading specialist engineering companies in off-road technology will develop the new Grenadier 4x4 to be built in Wales as part of a £600 Million investment. INEOS Automotive has announced an expansion of its partnership with global mobility technology company, Magna. Its subsidiary, Magna Powertrain, has been responsible for chassis and suspension development since the … [Read more...]
Wales’ Minister talks up new auto investment plan
Talks are "ongoing" to bring a new automotive company to Bridgend, where Ford will end engine production in a year's time, Wales Economy Minister Ken Skates has told radio listeners. WheelsWithinWales broke news of the initial plans last November to attract Ineos Automotive to Brocastle Industrial Estate and this spring Welsh Government said they were spending £10M of EU and UK funding to create … [Read more...]
Plans for Ford plant after closure
New investment uses for the Ford Bridgend Engine Plant site have been identified after it closes in just over a year. The future of the 189-acre site is one of the priorities identified by the Ford Bridgend Taskforce, chaired by Welsh Automotive Forum Chairman Richard Parry-Jones, who was also Ford's senior engineer in the 1990s and later. Chairman Richard Parry-Jones emphasised the need to … [Read more...]
Taskforce meets today over Ford closure plan
The Taskforce established by Welsh Government with the UK Government to support workers, communities and supply chain firms affected by the proposed closure of Ford’s Bridgend plant will meet for the first time this morning. The Taskforce, which is co-sponsored by Welsh Government Economy Minister Ken Skates and Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns, will be chaired by Professor Richard … [Read more...]
Local AM to oversee Ford Task Force aid
Welsh Government has set out the aims it wants a task force to work towards following the “devastating” closure announcement last week of the Ford Bridgend Engine Plant. After 40 years on the Waterton site east of Bridgend, Ford will close by autumn 2020 and make 1,700 people redundant. Ken Skates, Minister for Economy and Transport, said local AM and former First Minister Carwyn Jones, who has … [Read more...]
