UK Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch is scheduled to meet with the head of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) as the company embarks on a voluntary redundancy program that could lead to thousands of job cuts. The automotive manufacturer has not confirmed the exact number of positions to be eliminated but stated the measures are intended to "simplify" the business, "improve efficiency and build greater resilience."
A JLR spokesperson confirmed that employees and trade union partners were informed about the voluntary redundancy offering for salaried and management team members. While the company did not explicitly rule out compulsory redundancies, the current focus is on voluntary departures. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham described the situation as a "perfect storm" for the automotive industry, criticizing what she called "death by a thousand cuts" under successive governments.
Discussions are ongoing to mitigate job losses. Badenoch has also been in communication with West Midlands mayor Richard Parker to discuss support for the business and its workforce. The issue of the UK's electric vehicle sales target, which mandates a rising percentage of zero-emission vehicle sales annually to reach 80% by 2030, was also raised. Badenoch indicated that her department has already provided the industry with more flexibility in working towards these targets and that a further consultation is open regarding regulatory adjustments.
JLR, one of the West Midlands' largest employers, has faced significant challenges. In September 2025, a major cyber attack disrupted all manufacturing operations for several weeks, resulting in a 27% drop in overall production. The estimated cost of the cyber-attack and subsequent production loss was approximately £1.9 billion. In June, the company announced plans to cut around £1.7 billion in costs over the coming years, aiming to recover from the attack through savings in areas such as materials, warranty, and fixed costs.
Previously, in July, JLR had stated that fewer than 300 employees would leave the company as part of cost-saving measures introduced at that time. The company employs about 30,000 people in its UK operations and an additional 10,000 globally. The current job cut plans come amid ongoing struggles with tariffs and the lingering effects of the significant cyber incident.