Ford is in talks with a chemical company about using its Bridgend plant to build a new off-road vehicle. Ineos Automotive plans to build a car to replace the Land Rover Defender, which went out of production in 2016.
Talks come a week after Ford told staff working on the new Jaguar engine not to come to work for five days. Ford employs 1,850 people in Bridgend, though there have been concerns about the plant’s long-term future.
The car giant will stop producing engines for Jaguar Land Rover in 2020 and the Bridgend plant is looking for business in the globally competitive car industry to replace the work and secure the future of its staff.