LDV production to restart in July

Some LDV workers are likely to lose their jobs

Van maker LDV will restart production by July once its takeover deal is finalised, Weststar has said.

Malaysia's Weststar earlier this month agreed to buy the Birmingham-based company after the UK government provided a £5m four-week bridging loan.

The firm said it intended to maintain production at the company's plant in Birmingham, but also to expand manufacturing in Malaysia.

LDV was poised to enter administration before the Weststar deal.

The van maker halted production in Birmingham in December after demand slumped amid the recession, and LDV's Russian owner Gaz had problems finding financing.

LDV marketing director Guy Jones has said that not all of the company's 850 employees will keep their jobs.

Weststar run Honda car dealerships across Malaysia and have been selling LDV's Maxus van in south east Asia and the Middle East since 2007.