Cash help for car parts factory

The plant is to working on products for vehicles with hybrid engines

A car components factory planning an £11.4m expansion is to have cash help to protect and create jobs.

Calsonic Kansei in Llanelli, which employs nearly 400, makes engine cooling and air conditioning systems for major car manufacturers.

The Welsh Assembly Government is offering £3.2m towards its design of products for hybrid technologies.

Economy and Transport Minster Ieuan Wyn Jones said the work would safeguard 237 jobs and create 37 new jobs.

Mr Jones said: "Calsonic has been an important employer in the Llanelli area for decades and the assembly government has worked with the management on a number of investment projects in the past and warmly welcomes these new proposals.

"The planned investment is significant in terms of value - particularly in the current economic climate - while the introduction of next generation products at Llanelli should support the future development of the plant.

"I am also pleased that the investment will not only safeguard existing jobs at the plant but create a number of new high quality jobs."

Calsonic plant manager Jonathan Williams said the assembly government support was "crucial" in securing investment at the site.

He said: "This investment for the plant in Llanelli reflects the hard work by the employees over the last few years to improve the plant's competitiveness and is a vote of confidence that it has a sustainable future in the automotive industry.

"This announcement coincides with the news that Calsonic is successful in winning a major new contract with Jaguar Land Rover for the next generation Range Rover platform and will ensure that the work will come to the Llanelli plant which is great news for our employees."

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