BRITAIN’S largest carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) said that it would suspend production at its manufacturing plants in the UK.
The Tata Motors-owned firm on Thursday (19) added that it would temporarily suspend production from next week in a bid to curb further spread of Covid-19.
“The company’s intention is to resume in the week of April 20, subject to review of the rapidly-changing circumstances,” it said.
Meanwhile, JLR’s production facilities in Brazil and India will continue their operations.
The company said in a statement: “Currently, Jaguar Land Rover’s manufacturing plants in Brazil and India will continue operating. The company’s joint venture plant in China reopened in the week of February 24, as life begins to get back to normal in the country.”
The company’s latest decision follows its recent announcement of the temporary suspension of manufacturing at the company’s plant in Nitra, Slovakia, from Friday (20) and the confirmation by Magna that its vehicle manufacturing operations in Graz, Austria, are stopped until March 30.
The company stated in a release that “as a responsible business, Jaguar Land Rover is operating in line with advice from the NHS and Public Health England to minimise the spread of the coronavirus, while implementing plans to safeguard its business continuity. The company will work towards an orderly return to production once conditions permit.”
In Britain, 144 people with Covid-19 have died so far. Estimates of the potential death toll in the UK range from around 20,000 to over 250,000 or even more.
As on Thursday (19), 64,621 people have been tested in the UK, of which 61,352 were confirmed negative and 3,269 were confirmed positive.
