
Australia's WiseTech to cut some jobs in AI-driven efficiency push
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Australia's WiseTech Global confirmed on Wednesday it was cutting some roles as part of a workforce review to focus on "maximizing efficiency via automation and use of artificial intelligence".The software firm did not specify the number of jobs to be impacted in an emailed response to a Reuters query.The Australian Financial Review reported earlier in the day that the Sydney-headquartered logistics software provider has told employees it is increasing the use of AI across the business as part of a broad restructure, citing an email from WiseTech's chief of staff, Zubin Appoo.WiseTech, known for its flagship CargoWise platform , has a team of around 3,500 people across 38 countries, as of June 30, 2024, according to its 2024 annual report.A spokesperson said the firm is "supporting all impacted team members through this transition, including access to professional outplacement services."Wisetech's move mirrors broader industry trends, with technology companies worldwide reducing headcount to fund heavy investments in AI infrastructure.Earlier this month, Microsoft announced plans to lay off nearly 4% of its workforce, while big tech peers including Amazon, Facebook parent Meta and Alphabet's Google have all trimmed their labour forces in recent years.
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Mint
12 minutes ago
- Mint
JLR margin math wobbles on twin hit from China tax, EU-US trade deal move
New Delhi: Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is staring at a fresh wave of geopolitical and policy-driven turbulence, with China slapping a 10% tax on most luxury cars and the European Union (EU) proposing tariff relief only for automakers that manufacture in the US. For the Tata Motors-owned brand, which does not have a manufacturing base in the US, these twin developments could complicate recovery efforts and further squeeze profit margins. Starting July 20, China imposed 10% luxury consumption tax on cars priced over 900,000 renminbi. This covers most of the models sold in the Chinese luxury car market. Earlier, only cars priced above 1.3 million renminbi attracted the levy from the Chinese government. The timing of the twin hits could hardly be worse. Just a month ago, Jaguar Land Rover trimmed its growth forecast for the current fiscal year. Now, analysts are warning that these latest trade and policy shifts risk derailing the company's already modest FY26 guidance of 5-7% earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margin. JLR had banked on reduced tariffs on exports from its Slovakia plant to the US, but that scenario may now be overtaken by events. The EU, which is finalizing a trade deal with the US for lower tariffs, has proposed that auto firms that have manufacturing in that country and export from there should be given some relaxation from 25% tariffs on imports. 'The two combined geopolitical headwinds pose a downward risk to the company's FY2026 guidance of 5-7% EBIT margin, which had only factored in lower tariffs on its exports from Slovakia to the US after the EU-US trade deal," analysts at Kotak Institutional Equities wrote in a 21 July note. Agreeing with a possible near-term pressure on JLR, analysts at Ashika Institutional Equities said in a note on 23 July that the UK-headquartered firm could face challenges on the two fronts, given the latest developments. 'Both developments present strategic challenges for JLR. In China, pricing pressure from new taxes could impact high-end model sales, while in the West, the absence of US manufacturing limits JLR's ability to benefit from policy support, thereby increasing its relative vulnerability in key export markets," the Kotak note said. JLR rivals' BMW and Mercedes stand to benefit the most if EU's proposal is accepted by US as they have plants in the country, from where they export elsewhere. JLR has manufacturing plants in the UK and Slovakia in Europe. In India, it has an assembly plant in Pune, where it assembles several models like Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Velar, Discovery and Evoque. In FY25, JLR sold 10% fewer vehicles than the previous year in China at 47,200, while Europe saw an 11% decline at 71,700 units. Its biggest market, North America, recorded a 22% jump in sales to 129,000 cars during the year. However, JLR has faced headwinds in the international market since March, when US President Donald Trump announced a blanket 25% tariff on all automobile imports. During April-June, the first quarter of this FY, the maker of Range Rover SUVs sold 87,286 units, 11% fewer than a year ago due to a pause in shipments to the US in April to assess the tariff impact. JLR, which was acquired by Tata Motors in 2008 for $2.3 billion, contributed about 71% to Tata Motors overall revenue in the last fiscal. Analysts have earlier expressed concern that the near-term outlook for the company is weak. 'In JLR, discontinuance of 'Jaguar' ICE models, loss of market share in the China region and imposition of tariffs in the US shall lead to volume contraction ahead," Nuvama Institutional Equities had said in a note on 16 June. The company has acknowledged that its free cash flow will reduce to nearly nil in the current financial year. With the company looking to tackle the negative effects of various headwinds world over, it expects to end the current fiscal year with nil free cash flows. However, the management had earlier said the impact could have been even worse and the measures being implemented to offset the hit are leading to savings. 'The tariff impact will be primarily on Jaguar Land Rover. Tariff has gone up from 2.5% to 27.5%, and under the UK-US FTA, the tariff is 10%. The overall impact would have been 1.6 billion pounds," Tata Group Chairperson N. Chandrasekaran told shareholders at Tata Motors' annual general meeting on 20 June. 'But due to the steps taken by JLR, the impact has gone down to 600 million pounds, which is visible in the margin guidance," he added. At Tata Motors' annual investor day event also in June, the company said JLR will undertake several measures to drive savings, including manufacturing cost reduction, lowering vehicle warranty costs, and improving cost efficiencies in the overall value chain. The measures will collectively lead to savings worth 1.4 billion pounds per annum till financial year 2028, the company said. Jaguar Land Rover declined to comment when asked about the likely impact of the proposed EU-US trade deal and the Chinese luxury tax. The impact of the headwinds reflects in the company's share price. In 2025, Tata Motors' share price is down 8%, even as Nifty Auto has risen by 4%.


The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
India to resume tourist visas for Chinese citizens after five-year freeze
China suspended visas to Indian citizens and other foreigners around the same time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but lifted those restrictions in 2022, when it resumed issuing visas for students and business travelers. Tensions between the two countries escalated following a 2020 military clash along their disputed Himalayan border. In response, India imposed restrictions on Chinese investments, banned hundreds of popular Chinese apps, and cut passenger routes. Hong Kong: India will resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens from July 24 this year, its embassy in China said on Wednesday, the first time in five years as both countries move to repair their rocky relationship. Tourist visas for Indian nationals remained restricted until March this year, when both countries agreed to resume direct air service. Relations have gradually improved, with several high-level meetings taking place last year, including talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Russia in October. India and China share a 3,800 km (2,400-mile) border that has been disputed since the 1950s. The two countries fought a brief but brutal border war in 1962 and negotiations to settle the dispute have made slow progress. In July, India's foreign minister stated that both countries must resolve border friction, pull back troops and avoid 'restrictive trade measures' to normalise their relationship, he told China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Also Read: 'Will work out a deal with China where it'd give death penalty for fentanyl trafficking,' says Trump


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Breaking News Live July 24: In relief for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, judge bars ICE from taking him into custody
01:07 (IST) Jul 24 India will restart issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens from July 24, its embassy in China announced on Wednesday, marking the first such move in five years, as both countries take steps to repair a relationship strained by border clashes and trade tensions, reported Reuters. The decision follows a period of deep freeze in diplomatic and people-to-people ties after the 2020 Galwan clashes. In the aftermath, India had imposed sweeping restrictions on Chinese investments, banned hundreds of Chinese apps, and curtailed passenger traffic.