A STRUGGLING car parts factory is to close with the loss of 900 jobs, it was announced yesterday.

The Bosch plant in Miskin, near Cardiff, which makes alternators for the motor industry, is expected to shut at the end of an extended consultation period.

The company began an initial 90-day consultation period in October to consider two options – shedding about 300 jobs and carrying on with a smaller operation, or closing the plant next year if no commercially viable new business was found.

Yesterday, Bosch said no new business has been found and the division in charge of the Cardiff plant will recommend to the Bosch board that the plant be closed.

Production will be transferred to and phased out in Hungary.

Sales for Bosch’s alternator product dropped by 45 per cent between 2008 and last year, and is expected to fall by a further 65 per cent in 2010, a company spokesman said.