US giant carmaker Ford is to announce the closure of a main factory operating in UK’s Wales region, another blow to the car industry in Britain which has suffered from similar decisions amid economic uncertainties around its withdrawal from the European Union.
The ITV News said in a report that Ford will announce the closure of its engine plant in Bridgend, in South Wales, in a statement on Thursday.
The report cited sources close to the American company’s management in the UK that the announcement would be “devastating” for some 1,500 workers and staff of the factory who would lose their jobs as a result of the decision.
It comes after other international car manufacturers announced they are ceasing operations in the UK partly due to the political and economic uncertainty created by Brexit.
Japanese carmakers Honda and Nissan have already announced they are closing down factories in the UK citing Brexit as a reason.
The British government has denied the closures are linked to Brexit, saying car manufactures around the world are shifting to electric vehicles.
Union leaders said they would pursue Ford’s case as it would seriously affect the livelihood of workers in South Wales.
“Our priority is our members' jobs, the communities and livelihoods in the supply chain that Ford Bridgend supports,” said a spokesperson of Unite, a major labor union in Britain.
Ford had earlier indicated it was cutting down on the number of staff globally, both at the management and workers levels.
It said five months ago that a total of 1,000 of its Welsh workforce had to be reduced while announcing last month that some 550 staffers in the UK will be affected by worldwide plans to reduce collar jobs.