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‘It will kill Jaguar Land Rover’: town home to one of Britain’s largest car plants reacts to Trump’s tariffs ‘Everyone is affected’: UK town with Jaguar Land Rover plant reacts to Trump’s tariffs
(33 minutes later)
People in Solihull in the West Midlands, where a JLR plant employs 9,000 workers, fear for an ailing industry and wider community In Solihull, where the factory employs 9,000 workers, there are fears for an ailing industry and wider community
From mountainsides to deserts, or even just to get around town, Land Rovers are used the world over. For a time however, many of the sturdy vehicles’ distinctive oval plates were branded with the name of a West Midlands town.From mountainsides to deserts, or even just to get around town, Land Rovers are used the world over. For a time however, many of the sturdy vehicles’ distinctive oval plates were branded with the name of a West Midlands town.
“It’s an icon for Solihull and it was synonymous with Britain,” said Robert Mills, 70. The town is home to the 121-hectare (300-acre) Jaguar Land Rover car plant, which employs more than 9,000 people and is one of the last bastions of the UK’s waning automotive industry.“It’s an icon for Solihull and it was synonymous with Britain,” said Robert Mills, 70. The town is home to the 121-hectare (300-acre) Jaguar Land Rover car plant, which employs more than 9,000 people and is one of the last bastions of the UK’s waning automotive industry.
On Wednesday – or “liberation day” as Donald Trump declared it – the US president announced sweeping global tariffs, including a 25% tariff on UK cars. Mills, a former automotive consultant who began his career when the industry was thriving, is worried about what this means for the future locally.On Wednesday – or “liberation day” as Donald Trump declared it – the US president announced sweeping global tariffs, including a 25% tariff on UK cars. Mills, a former automotive consultant who began his career when the industry was thriving, is worried about what this means for the future locally.
“I’m appalled. It will kill Jaguar Land Rover here in the town,” he said. “There could potentially be job losses because JLR export enormously to America. The knock-on effect is going to be enormous.”“I’m appalled. It will kill Jaguar Land Rover here in the town,” he said. “There could potentially be job losses because JLR export enormously to America. The knock-on effect is going to be enormous.”
The automotive industry has been on the downturn locally, but Mills said it once defined the region’s industrial identity. “When I left school, you couldn’t go around the West Midlands without stumbling across either the supply chain or a manufacturing plant producing car components,” he said.The automotive industry has been on the downturn locally, but Mills said it once defined the region’s industrial identity. “When I left school, you couldn’t go around the West Midlands without stumbling across either the supply chain or a manufacturing plant producing car components,” he said.
Mills has little confidence that Trump’s bold gamble of tariffs will pay off domestically. “Trump may think he can manufacture all the parts again in America. But I’ve seen the closed factories around Detroit. They’re not there. It’s all gone.”Mills has little confidence that Trump’s bold gamble of tariffs will pay off domestically. “Trump may think he can manufacture all the parts again in America. But I’ve seen the closed factories around Detroit. They’re not there. It’s all gone.”
During a visit to the White House earlier this year, Keir Starmer went on a charm offensive and even offered the US president an unprecedented second state visit.During a visit to the White House earlier this year, Keir Starmer went on a charm offensive and even offered the US president an unprecedented second state visit.
It appeared to pay off in part, with the UK facing only 10% blanket retaliatory tariffs, aside from the larger ones placed on cars. In comparison, the EU was handed 20% equivalent tariffs, China faces 34% and Vietnam was given hefty 46% tariffs.It appeared to pay off in part, with the UK facing only 10% blanket retaliatory tariffs, aside from the larger ones placed on cars. In comparison, the EU was handed 20% equivalent tariffs, China faces 34% and Vietnam was given hefty 46% tariffs.
Mills has some advice for the government: “Negotiation. Try and reason with an unreasonable man.”Mills has some advice for the government: “Negotiation. Try and reason with an unreasonable man.”
Others in the town are less optimistic about the chances of swaying Trump. “I don’t think anyone’s going to be able to persuade him either way,” said Lynda Rhea, 75.Others in the town are less optimistic about the chances of swaying Trump. “I don’t think anyone’s going to be able to persuade him either way,” said Lynda Rhea, 75.
She took note of the defiant tone of the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, against Trump in recent weeks. “The Canadians stood up to him a bit, didn’t they?” she said. “Is it a good thing to stand up to him? Or is it best to just sit back and wait?”She took note of the defiant tone of the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, against Trump in recent weeks. “The Canadians stood up to him a bit, didn’t they?” she said. “Is it a good thing to stand up to him? Or is it best to just sit back and wait?”
She added: “For the worldwide economy he’s doing the wrong thing. Everyone’s going to panic.”She added: “For the worldwide economy he’s doing the wrong thing. Everyone’s going to panic.”
The tariffs may not just affect workers at Jaguar Land Rover. Tony Rhea, 77, worked with the car manufacturer as an electrical mechanical engineer before he retired. “Everyone is affected,” he said. “Right down to the cafe where they eat, the people who wash their overalls and even the people that maintain the robots, that’s all local.”The tariffs may not just affect workers at Jaguar Land Rover. Tony Rhea, 77, worked with the car manufacturer as an electrical mechanical engineer before he retired. “Everyone is affected,” he said. “Right down to the cafe where they eat, the people who wash their overalls and even the people that maintain the robots, that’s all local.”
The sudden introduction of the tariffs has startled some. “This has come out of the blue. If we had five or 10 years then we could have probably planned better properly but it’s immediate,” said Thomas Newman, 86.The sudden introduction of the tariffs has startled some. “This has come out of the blue. If we had five or 10 years then we could have probably planned better properly but it’s immediate,” said Thomas Newman, 86.
While he disagrees with them overall, Newman can see some logic behind Trump’s tariffs. “I can understand his concern for the American public, but I think it’s going to cause a lot of problems in the stock market, and it’s going to cause a lot of problems in regards to employment in various countries in the world,” he said.While he disagrees with them overall, Newman can see some logic behind Trump’s tariffs. “I can understand his concern for the American public, but I think it’s going to cause a lot of problems in the stock market, and it’s going to cause a lot of problems in regards to employment in various countries in the world,” he said.
In 2024, British car production fell to its lowest level in seven decades – barring the coronavirus pandemic – amid weak demand and a shift towards electric vehicles. In the same year, China’s share of the global electric vehicle market soared, with Chinese EVs making up 76% of the market by October.In 2024, British car production fell to its lowest level in seven decades – barring the coronavirus pandemic – amid weak demand and a shift towards electric vehicles. In the same year, China’s share of the global electric vehicle market soared, with Chinese EVs making up 76% of the market by October.
Newman called on the British government to “give concessions to the UK automotive industry to make it more attractive than the American industry” and said domestic producers needed to be more competitive.Newman called on the British government to “give concessions to the UK automotive industry to make it more attractive than the American industry” and said domestic producers needed to be more competitive.
“When you think about it, you’ve got competition from China and other countries. Chinese electric vehicles can be bought for half the price,” he said.“When you think about it, you’ve got competition from China and other countries. Chinese electric vehicles can be bought for half the price,” he said.
“We’ve got to be making something that the rest of the world really wants.”“We’ve got to be making something that the rest of the world really wants.”