Tata: We will build on Halewood’s heritage

Mar 27 2008 by Alistair Houghton, Liverpool Daily Post

THE new owner of the Jaguar and Land Rover plant at Halewood says it is committed to growing the brands and preserving their identity as British motoring icons.

Indian group Tata Motors yesterday confirmed it was buying Jaguar Land Rover from Ford in a $2.3bn (£1.15bn) deal. The deal was welcomed by union Unite, which said it was pleased at Tata’s com-mitment to invest in the business and keep Halewood’s 2,200-plus jobs.

Analysts say Tata is likely to build on the success of the profit- able Land Rover business, whose successful Freelander 2 vehicle is built at Halewood, and will invest in the loss-making Jaguar to drive it back to profitability.

Tata has also committed to buying gearbox systems from Getrag Ford, which employs hundreds of people at another Halewood plant.

Tata chairman Ratan Tata said: “We have enormous respect for the two brands and will endeavour to preserve and build on their heritage and competitiveness, keeping their identities intact.”

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