Jaguar's UK plant suspends X-type output

LONDON, Jan 28, 2003; Reuters reported that Ford Motor Co.'s Jaguar UK automobile plant is to suspend production of its X-type model for up to three weeks because global economic and political uncertainty has cut sales, the Guardian newspaper said on Tuesday.

Jaguar Corporate affairs manager David Crisp told the newspaper the aim was to redress an imbalance between production and stock levels.

"We are operating in a very competitive market and there is an increasing uncertainty in global markets," he said. "The situation with Iraq does not help."

Jaguar's Halewood plant in Merseyside, Liverpool, introduced a number of four-day weeks last year, the newspaper said, adding that the February shutdown would affect 2,400 workers.

Jaguar officials were not immediately available for comment.