Jaguar considering production cuts
Auto sales are tough around the globe and production cuts are occurring on a regular basis. Jaguar is planning to slow production at its Castle Bromwich plant by the end of the month in response to slow global sales. The XJ and XK output will be slashed due to a lack of demand. The production cut comes a month after Jaguar's Tata-owned stablemate, Land Rover, cut its Soilhill facility to a four-day work-week in response to slow sales. One bright spot for Jaguar is that UK sales are up a substantial 12%, due mostly to the hot-selling XF sedan. Although Tata has seen some success with the XF, the Indian automaker's reign over the British luxury marquees so far has been less than spectacular. Ford, on the other hand, has two less problem brands on its hands.[Source: Autocar]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
stealthebeatles 8:04AM (9/23/2008)
Tata kind of got screwed by timing, and they haven't had enough time to make any substantial changes that could affect things long-term. That being said, I do hope they do will with Jag and LR.
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Alex 10:34AM (9/23/2008)
I couldn't agree more. We will not see the fruits of Tata's labors until 2011 and beyond. Anything on the table right now was penned under Ford's permission. Vehicles like an XJ230 (shut up, i can hope) or F-Type will need to be created from scratch and will take a fews years to become a reality.
Soccer Mom 8:33AM (9/23/2008)
Jag should begin building cars only when an order is placed. There is no point to run a manufacturing facility if interested customer show up only twice a year - all assembly can happen by hand on the back in the dealership's garage.
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Flashpoint 10:28AM (9/23/2008)
The XF is a great car but its only real competitors, in that range, are the M3, the S4, and the C63
I'm glad to see it selling, unfortunately, it didn't benefit Ford
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Spiel 9:33AM (9/25/2008)
I don't think the XF falls in the same class as the M3, S4 or C63. It's more aligned with the 5 Series, A6 and E Class. As a base model, it couldn't even compete with the M3, S4 of C63. And when you bring the XF-R in the picture, then it's aligned with the M5, S6 and E63.
I love Jaguar, I drive one, but I'm not too keen on the XF.
saurabhdate 10:36AM (9/23/2008)
Solihull mate, it's Solihull
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Avinash machado 10:37AM (9/23/2008)
What about the report a few weeks back that Tata was hoping to revive the Daimler nameplate? If Jaguars are not selling well what would be the point of launching even more expensive luxury cars?
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Dazza 10:43AM (9/23/2008)
Autoblog: in response to your biased diatribe, I think Ford of America is enough problems on its hand giving the American public a decent range of vehicles of its own, without getting into ownership of other corporations. The global slowdown in demand for vehicles such as large luxury cars and 4x4s will no doubt affect Jaguar and Land Rover.
By the way, show some damned respect and at least get the name of the town where Land Rover's factory is situated spelled correctly - it's SOLIHULL.
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Sharone 11:04AM (9/23/2008)
Tata should move all production to India, and only build to order.
As long as they can maintain or improve the current quality, the sales shouldn't suffer.
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Richard S. 1:07PM (9/24/2008)
Tata can't even build a factory to produce the Nano without having the CEO of its supplier killed by a mob. How the heck are they going to build cars to match the quality of Mercedes and Lexus?
Cole Mitguard 11:59AM (9/23/2008)
Well lets see, were in the middle of an economic downturn in the US and most of Europe, which in general leads to less money being spent on Luxury Goods, such as luxury cars. And Jag is arguably the least popular of the major luxury car manufacturers. You add that up, and a cut in production is necessary.
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Amien 5:52PM (9/23/2008)
Wow. This post reeks of so much bias, it's not even funny.
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Paul 1:31PM (9/24/2008)
Given the cyclical nature of the global economy and the long development time of carsw, by the time the new XJ is launched, the market should be much improved. A new sports car will arrive a year or two later than that, when the current recession will be but a memory.
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