Jaguar, Land Rover Sale Set for March 5 or 6

Washington DC February 26, 2008; The AIADA newsletter reported that Automotive News said yesterday that Tata Motors will announce its purchase of Jaguar Land Rover on March 5 or 6. The dates have been agreed between Tata and Ford, which is selling the two luxury brands, following talks with trade union leaders last week.

Roger Maddison, national officer of Unite, the largest union in the UK auto industry, said Tata had agreed to meet guarantees sought by workers' leaders. He said, "Everything seems fine as far as we are concerned; it's just the lawyers working on it now."

In earlier talks with the two companies, unions had been seeking assurances that Tata would continue to source engines, stampings and other systems from Ford's plants in Bridgend in Wales and Dagenham, near London.

"The sooner everything goes through, the better," said Maddison. "The workforces are beginning to get anxious."