Business

Ineos Automotive axes hundreds of UK jobs amid US tariffs and declining sales

Friday, 14 November 2025 5:09AM UTC

Billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos Automotive plans to cut several hundred jobs across its UK operations due to falling sales and the impact of US import tariffs, prompting a strategic shift towards the American market.

Billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s car manufacturing business, Ineos Automotive, is set to cut several hundred jobs across multiple locations, including the UK, as it struggles with falling sales and the financial impact of import tariffs. The company, which employs around 1,700 people worldwide and had 230 employees in the UK as of its most recent accounts, announced that these redundancies are part of a strategic refocus on its core manufacturing and commercial functions. A spokesperson for the company stated this move aims to streamline operations to “grow sales and deliver exceptional products, service and support to customers.” Despite these cuts, Ineos plans to open a new "Americas HQ" in the United States, underscoring its continued commitment to the North American market.

The job reductions come amid a significant decline in UK sales of Ineos vehicles, including the Grenadier 4x4 and the Quartermaster pick-up, with a reported 23% drop this year relative to the previous year, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. This downturn reflects broader challenges facing the company, including rising costs due to tariffs. In April 2025, Ineos Automotive announced price increases to offset a newly imposed 25% U.S. tariff on imported vehicles. Orders placed before April 3 were protected from these increases, but new orders saw prices rise by 5% for the Grenadier SUV and 10% for the Quartermaster pick-up. North America accounts for over 60% of Ineos' global sales, making the tariff impact particularly significant.

The tariffs on foreign car imports, introduced under policies promoted by former U.S. President Donald Trump to bolster American manufacturing, have forced multiple automakers, including Ineos, to respond with price hikes, import fees, production pauses, and layoffs. These tariffs have contributed to a volatile market environment, leading to job losses not only at Ineos but also impacting other UK automotive manufacturers such as Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Lotus Cars. JLR experienced a 15% decline in global retail sales and responded by cutting up to 500 managerial roles in the UK, while Lotus announced plans to reduce its British workforce by up to 550 jobs, representing nearly 40% of its UK personnel.

The wider UK automotive sector has seen overall production slump, with reports indicating a 32.8% year-on-year drop in vehicle output in May 2025, partly due to disruptions such as JLR’s pause on U.S. shipments following tariff hikes. In some cases, companies like Lotus have even considered relocating production to the U.S. to mitigate costs and instability caused by these trade tensions. While a UK-U.S. trade agreement later eased some pressures by reducing tariffs on UK car exports to 10%, capped at 100,000 vehicles annually, the adjustment period has been challenging for manufacturers.

Ineos' decision to cut office roles, particularly in London, while investing in an American headquarters, reflects a strategic pivot to prioritise markets where the company sees sustained potential despite these hurdles. Industry observers note that the restructuring efforts are focused on maintaining competitiveness through operational efficiency in a difficult economic and geopolitical context.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/markets/article-15288909/Ineos-axe-hundreds-jobs-Trump-tariffs-send-car-sales-veering-course.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/automaker-ineos-adjusts-pricing-result-tariffs-2025-04-04/ - In April 2025, INEOS Automotive, a London-based manufacturer, announced it would increase prices on its vehicles in response to the new 25% U.S. tariff on auto imports. The company stated that orders placed before April 3 would be price-protected, while new orders would see a 5% price increase for the Grenadier SUV and a 10% increase for the Quartermaster pick-up truck. North America represents over 60% of INEOS' global sales, though specific sales figures were not disclosed.
https://www.indexbox.io/blog/ineos-automotive-to-cut-hundreds-of-jobs-amid-sales-decline/ - In November 2025, INEOS Automotive announced plans to cut several hundred head office jobs across multiple locations due to a 23% decline in UK sales compared to the previous year. The company stated that the reorganisation would focus on core manufacturing and commercial activities, aiming to streamline operations and improve efficiency. Despite the job cuts, INEOS plans to open a new 'Americas HQ' in New Jersey, indicating a continued commitment to the North American market.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/04/autos-car-giants-answer-trump-tariffs-with-price-hikes-and-layoffs.html - In April 2025, major automakers, including INEOS Automotive, responded to U.S. President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on foreign auto imports by announcing plans to raise prices, impose import fees, pause production, and lay off staff. The tariffs were part of efforts to shift production to U.S. factories and bolster American jobs. The actions led to significant stock declines for some of the world's biggest car brands.
https://www.cbtnews.com/jlr-hit-by-falling-sales-tariffs-and-job-cuts-amid-ev-delays/ - In July 2025, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) faced a 15% decline in global retail sales, attributed to a pause in U.S. shipments following increased tariffs and delays in launching electric vehicles. To address operational strains, JLR announced plans to cut up to 500 UK-based managerial roles under a voluntary redundancy program. The company also postponed the launch of its electric Range Rover and Jaguar models to allow for more testing and to address slower-than-expected demand.
https://www.indexbox.io/blog/lotus-to-cut-550-uk-jobs-amid-us-tariff-challenges/ - In August 2025, Lotus Cars announced plans to cut up to 550 jobs at its British factory in Hethel, Norfolk, representing nearly two-fifths of its UK workforce. The decision was attributed to challenging market conditions, with U.S. trade tariffs significantly impacting exports. Despite previous investments to modernize the Hethel facility, the company faced operational challenges due to the tariffs, leading to the job cuts.
https://www.arabtimesonline.com/arabtimes/uploads/images/2025/07/07/77416.pdf - In May 2025, UK vehicle production experienced a 32.8% year-on-year decline, with output dropping to 49,810 units. The downturn was partly due to Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) suspending shipments to the U.S. after the U.S. imposed a 25% import tariff on foreign-made cars. Similarly, Lotus considered relocating production to the U.S. to offset rising costs and market instability. A UK-U.S. trade agreement later eased tensions by lowering tariffs on UK car exports to 10%, capped at 100,000 vehicles per year.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative is recent, with the earliest known publication date being October 7, 2025. ([news.sky.com](https://news.sky.com/story/ineos-blames-chinese-dumping-for-cuts-to-hull-workforce-13446327?utm_source=openai)) The report is based on a press release from Ineos Automotive, which typically warrants a high freshness score. ([news.bloomberglaw.com](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/tariff-news/jim-ratcliffes-ineos-car-venture-cuts-several-hundred-staff?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score: 7

Notes: The direct quotes from Ineos spokespersons are unique to this report, with no identical matches found in earlier material. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score: 6

Notes: The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, a reputable UK newspaper. However, the Daily Mail has faced criticism for sensationalism and accuracy issues in the past, which may affect the reliability of the information.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The claims about Ineos cutting jobs due to tariff impacts are plausible and align with similar reports from other reputable outlets. ([news.bloomberglaw.com](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/tariff-news/jim-ratcliffes-ineos-car-venture-cuts-several-hundred-staff?utm_source=openai)) The narrative includes specific details such as the number of jobs affected and the strategic focus on core manufacturing and commercial activities, which adds credibility.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative presents recent and plausible information about Ineos cutting jobs in response to tariff challenges. While the quotes appear original and the source is reputable, the Daily Mail's history of sensationalism and accuracy issues warrants caution. Further verification from additional reputable sources is recommended to confirm the details.

Automotive industry
Job cuts
Trade tariffs