TVR Layoffs

[Matt Lynham]

Think I just heard that TVR are laying off half their workforce! Did I hear right??

[MartinW]

It's been talked about on the MG Enthusiast BBS, but was started by Mega, it does sound a bit ominous, though.

[GT]

I've just found this from the BBC website "Last Updated: Friday, 21 April 2006, 09:36 GMT 10:36 UK" Looks like Matt was pretty hot off the press! :D

TVR 'laying off half its staff'
TVR, the UK's biggest independent sports carmaker, is laying off half of its workforce, a union has warned.

The Transport and General Workers' Union said half of the firm's 300 staff had received a letter telling them to stay home from Monday.

Production at the company's Blackpool plant is said to have fallen from 12 cars a week to two.

The firm was bought in 2004 by young Russian multi-millionaire Nikolay Smolensky, who was just 23 at the time.

No-one at TVR was immediately available for comment on Friday morning.

Super-rich father

Mr Smolenksy's personal wealth is estimated at $100m (£56m).

Much of his money is reported to have come from the businesses created by his father: Russia's first private banker, the oligarch Alexander Smolensky.

TVR currently makes five different models - the Sagaris, Tuscan, Tuscan Convertible, T350 and Tamora.

The firm was founded in 1947 by Trevor Wilkinson, who used three consonants from his first name for the company title.

TVR's cars have long been popular with sports car enthusiasts who value an exciting drive and value for money.

Yet at the same time, it is fair to say that the firm has in recent years been hit by reliability issues.

[GT]

Such sad news though... MG-Rover, PSA and now TVR :o

[Gust]

looks like there are also big signs of a crisis in the Uk automotive industry... :(
What do you think will happen to TVR? Are there any rumors about financial problems?

[elise251]

Everything is just crashing down around us all, all the compainies made such great fun cars to drive, good looks, speed, etc etc, is that not what people want, or is it all about 2pt god knows how many kids? although with MG's, the later model's that is, the hourds could/can go in the back, but thats not the point.
It's all just very sad and quite worrying if you think about it too deeply. Perhaps we should all move abroad, no speed limits and then buy cheaper and better brittish sports cars!!!! A thought!!!
Hope TVR sort things out, makes you wonder who's next, is there anyone, Noble, Lotus (sort of) thats all I can think of off the top of my head!

[niall cowan]

Sign of things to come i'm afraid folks.
Fuel costs set to rise even further and gold at a 25 year high:shock:
The price of gold rising almost certainly means we are in for a rough time.
Tighten your belts........now:cry:

[Gust]

but all this must not happen!! I want to move to the Uk and work in some automotive over there!!
Thats my goal for the next future... Because over here in Germany things are so bad that the only chance I see for myself is moving to another country.

Hopefully things get better at TVR and all the other great companies which make such great cars and finally for the british economy.
Over here in Germany the politicians and their mates, the managers, are riding the whole economy and the whole country into the mud.

[Tony]

Over here in Germany the politicians and their mates, the managers, are riding the whole economy and the whole country into the mud.
Not much different here.

[elise251]

Not much different here.

Unfortunatly thats all too true. Shame.

[MartinAston]

Last Updated: Monday, 24 April 2006, 15:10 GMT 16:10 UK


Fears for TVR as firm quits plant

The layoffs are more bad news for the British car industry
Fresh uncertainty surrounds the future of sportscar manufacturer TVR after it said it would quit its Blackpool factory within six months.
The firm - which has temporarily laid off more than a quarter of its 260 staff - said it was unable to guarantee the future of its remaining workforce.

However, TVR insisted that it would not close and said its Russian owner was committed to the company's future.

Union officials said the news was "devastating" for workers.

Established in 1947, TVR is Britain's largest independent sportscar owner and was bought by Russian tycoon Nikolai Smolensky in 2004.

Relocation

TVR is looking for new purpose-built premises after it decided not to renew the lease of its 30-year old factory in Blackpool.


I thought it (TVR) would stay in England for ever but that is obviously not the case
Andy Robertson, TGWU official

TVR has been under pressure as demand for its two seat sportscars has sagged and it revealed on Friday that it had temporarily stood down 71 of its 260 staff.

The firm said it hoped to remain in the area but also warned that it could be forced to relocate elsewhere in the UK if it could not find suitable premises nearby.

"This has been on the cards for quite a while," a TVR spokesman said.

"Ideally we would stay around here because that is where the trained people are but we cannot guarantee it."

TVR said it was "essential" that it found new premises within the next six months so production was not disrupted.

No guarantees

The firm said demand had picked up over Easter.


We are investing for the future
TVR

However, it warned that it could not guarantee the future of the 71 staff affected by the slowdown or those remaining with the business.

"We cannot make any guarantees," the spokesman said.

TVR said it hoped to export cars to Europe and the Middle East in the future and ruled out the possibility of the firm being forced to close.

"We are investing for the future and our new owner is in it for the long term," the spokesman said.

Unions said the outlook for the company was very bleak.

"The workforce is devastated by the news," Andy Robertson, a TGWU official, told BBC Radio Lancashire.

Workers had no idea where TVR cars would be made in the future, he said, and many were expecting to be made redundant.

"This is the quintessential British sports car," he added. "I thought it would stay in England for ever but that is obviously not the case."

[Tootall]

What a shame :banghead: .
Wonder if they will be built in Brum? (just thinking aloud)

[Excel620]

I wonder if they will do a Noble and build them overseas?

[elise251]

http://www.ntlworld.com/news/story_uk.php?page_zone=223.1.1&storyid=28048806 Updated news story on TVR layoff.

[GT]

It just goes from bad to worse :o