Car manufacturers have been affected badly by a steep fall in demand and are being forced to reduce output.

That, however, will reduce output, which the company can ill afford.

He has already introduced voluntary redundancies and short-time working on full pay to reduce output.

Expected consolidation between financially distressed carmakers, which would further reduce output, only adds to the uncertainty.

Copper prices headed north yesterday after it emerged that strikes would reduce output at two of the world's largest mines.