The talks are at an early stage, but the fact that one or other party has released the information that Ineos is in discussion with Ford about using spare capacity at the Bridgend engine plant, when the Jaguar contract comes to an end, seems promising. There is clearly a niche for a replacement for the traditional Land Rover, which JLR in Solihull has ceased to manufacture. The design will have to be updated, of course, as Toyota has mopped up the overseas market with its Land Cruiser, said to be more reliable than the Land Rover.
A big obstacle to a successful deal is the reputation which Sir Jim Ratcliffe, founder of Ineos, has as a union-buster. In fact, yesterday's media release may have been designed to put pressure on the unions at Bridgend to accept stringent conditions in return for continued employment.
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