Threat to 140 jobs at car factory

The plant makes accessories for car manufacturers

A German-owned car accessories firm has warned that production at its Wrexham factory could end because of increasing competition from foreign imports.

Executives at BOS Automotive Products say they are making strenuous efforts to avoid redundancies among 140 staff.

The plant on Wrexham's Industrial Estate opened ten years ago.

The company makes sun shields, boot covers and other accessories and supplies manufacturers such as Land Rover, Jaguar and Toyota.

Senior managers say they are being undercut by suppliers in Eastern Europe and elsewhere.

The loss of Vauxhall Luton and MG Rover has also reduced demand for the company's products.

BOS is considering whether to end production in Wrexham as part of a restructuring process.

We like to think of ourselves as a caring, sharing employer Carlton Herrington, BOS Automotive

Talks are underway with the workforce and executives are meeting customers to discuss ways of cutting costs.

Carlton Herrington, the general manager of BOS Wrexham, said closure was not a foregone conclusion.

"We are now involved in consultations with our workforce," said Mr Herrington.

"They are a very loyal group of people and, as we like to think of ourselves as a caring sharing employer, we want to ensure that they are properly consulted and kept fully in the picture."

If manufacturing is halted, executives say the firm will retain an engineering centre in Wrexham, providing job security in areas such as design, development and customer support.