UK News 13-12-2000 2,000 Jobs Lost At Vauxhall who: Vauxhall what: To axe 15,000 jobs in Europe and America where: LUTON when: Yesterday snippet: "Motor giant Vauxhall delivered a pre-Christmas shock," reports The Evening Standard, "by announcing plans to end car production at one of its UK plants, with the loss of 2,000 jobs - a fifth of its workforce." Car production in Luton will cease in Luton early in 2002, although the plant will continue to manufacture vans and off-road vehicles. In the GM company`s global "restructuring", 5,000 jobs will be lost across Europe and a further 10,000 in North America. "The surprise decision, which will take effect in 15 months, ended a bleak year for the motor industry," reports The Telegraph. Rover`s Longbridge faced closure in May. Up to 1,700 jobs in Sunderland might be axed next month if Nissan moves production of the Micra to France and, says The Sun`s Ken Gibson, "Doubts are also hanging over Toyota`s Burnaston factory near Derby". "This is a kick in the teeth," says Vauxhall worker Chris Whiting in The Sun. "We`ve sweated blood for the management - and this is how we are repaid." A company spokesman blamed "a substantial reduction in expected demand for cars in the Vectra segment" and "overcapacity in Europe," says The Independent. "Government policies designed to help consumers by hammering down the price of cars also played their part". [... more]

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