170 jobs to move from Black Country to Eastern Europe in factory closure

170 jobs are set to go at a company which makes locking mechanisms for cars as it announced plans to close its Black Country factory and shift production to Eastern Europe.

Huf UK, which supplies the likes of BMW, Jaguar and Honda, is to move work to Poland and Romania, its German owner said.

The company blamed increased competition in the automotive industry and “continuously declining sales volume” at the plant.

It said that despite “far-reaching efforts” to make the factory more competitive, it has taken the decision to close the site in December.

Huf UK, which started in Tipton in 1987, is offering employees the chance to apply for jobs in the Eastern European plants.

Huf UK is part of the German Huf Group which operates in 14 countries and employs around 10,000 worldwide.