Hundreds of Merseyside-made Evoques and Freelanders being recalled
All the vehicles being recalled were made at Halewood on Merseyside Credit: Dave Thompson/PA
Hundreds of Range Rover Evoques and Land Rover Freelanders are being recalled by the manufacturer.
Jaguar Land Rover, which makes the cars at its Merseyside factory in Halewood, says 1,400 of the cars need to come back to the plant for inspections.
About 800 Evoques may have a steering issue, while another 600 Evoques and Freelanders could have faulty brakes. There have been no reported accidents.
The problems affect 235 cars in the UK.
A JLR spokesman said: "Land Rover is voluntarily conducting a safety recall to inspect the power steering gear mounting fixings in certain Range Rover Evoque models and the brake callipers in certain Freelander and Evoque models.
"Customers with vehicles that are potentially affected by these issues will be contacted in the near future."
The Halewood plant had been celebrating one of its most successful years.
International demand for the Evoque had pushed production to go 24 hours-a-day for the first time. Hundreds of new staff have also been taken on.
JLR recently reported that sales of the Evoque were up by 39% in November, compared to the same month in 2011.
Sales of the Evoque were up 39% year-on-year in November Credit: AP Photo/Paul Sancya
This is a very good result for JLR in particular and the car industry in general. We can now move forward to reinforce the renaissance in British car production.
The deal is nothing less than the workforce deserve as they have contributed greatly to the nearly £3 billion profit made by JLR over the last three years.
Workers at car giant Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) have accepted a two-year pay deal said to be worth up to 9.8%.
Unite said its members at Castle Bromwich and Solihull in the West Midlands, Halewood on Merseyside and the research sites at Gaydon and Whitley, also in the West Midlands, voted by 3-1 in favour.
Jaguar Land Rover workers in line for big pay rise
Workers at Jaguar Land Rover have been advised to accept a two-year pay rise which could be worth up to 9.8%.
Unite union officials voted to recommend the deal for workers at Halewood on Merseyside. It will now go to a vote of the workforce and, if agreed, would start on November 1.
"The Unite shop stewards voted overwhelmingly in favour of the package which had been hammered out during tough negotiations with JLR's management.
"We have a great workforce at JLR producing a very successful range of excellent vehicles and it is only right that our members share in the nearly #3 billion profit made by JLR over the last two years.
"The British car industry is undergoing a renaissance at present. The constructive working together by employers and the trade unions has been a major factor in this revitalisation of the automotive sector."
Car makers in the UK saw a spike in manufacturing last month, according to figures released today.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders say it was the busiest May since 2004.
UK factories, which include Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire and Jaguar Land Rover's base in Halewood on Merseyside, made 141,146 cars last month. That was a 42.2% hike, with year-to-date volumes up by 17.3%
Political leaders in Ellesmere Port have welcomed news that Jaguar Land Rover are to create 300 new jobs in the town.
“This is tremendous news for Ellesmere Port and will continue the town’s long partnership with the automotive industry.
“We have moved heaven and earth to help make this happen and I understand the company were delighted with the quality of service we have been able to offer.
“Today’s announcement shows that Ellesmere Port is open for business in a big way – and we are hoping for similar announcements in the near future. We have the sites, the workforce and a first class transport network.”
– Mike Jones, leader Cheshire West and Cheshire Council
