The top-end car manufacturer already shed 230 jobs in December. Last month the company, a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, said it would stop production at its plant in the central English city of Cheshire for seven weeks beginning in March to deal with the collapse in the auto market.

Car sales have crashed as Britain has fallen deeper into recession, and the future of the country's auto sector is in doubt. Many companies, such as Jaguar Land Rover, have asked for government help to survive. Suppliers have also suffered - British car parts maker Wagon PLC filed for a form of bankruptcy in December.