British carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has launched a voluntary redundancy program for salaried and management staff as part of a sweeping multibillion‑dollar cost‑cutting drive. The initiative aims to lower the company’s global operational break‑even point to 300,000 vehicles annually. Unconfirmed British media reports suggest the two‑year overhaul could affect up to 4,000 non‑assembly positions within its 30,000‑strong U.K. workforce, while hourly assembly line workers at primary facilities will remain outside the scheme.

“Over the past three years, we have transformed our product portfolio,” a JLR spokesperson told outlets. “To achieve this next phase, we must further simplify our organization, improve efficiency, and build greater resilience while adapting to evolving global market conditions.”

Jaguar Land Rover emblem near the car dealership. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

The restructuring follows mounting financial and operational pressures. A 10% tariff on vehicle imports to the U.S. is squeezing profit margins, and JLR faces intensifying competition from lower‑cost Chinese electric vehicles, notably Chery’s Jaecoo 7 SUV.

The cost‑cutting push also follows a major cyberattack late last year that forced JLR to halt production at several facilities. The disruption contributed to a 27% drop in output and an estimated $2.5 billion (£1.9 billion) drag on the broader British economy.

U.K. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds confirmed he would meet with JLR Chief Executive Officer PB Balaji and representatives from Unite the Union.

Showrooms for Jaguar and Landrover in Line Wall Road, Gibraltar, operated by A.M. Capurro, the official dealer in the city. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

“A company the size of JLR … at various times in its business cycle, the number of people it employs will change,” Reynolds told the BBC on Sunday. “If this is about making sure over time that the workforce is right to make the business as competitive as possible, that’s the conversation we need to have. But the government will not be giving support if it’s to bail people out.”

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said union leaders will engage with JLR executives to ensure hourly factory personnel are protected from compulsory job losses.

FOX Business has reached out to Jaguar Land Rover for additional comment.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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