Jaguar Land Rover has announced plans to create 1,300 new jobs as it continues to accelerate its industry-leading expertise in aluminum and lightweight technologies.
This latest announcement from the Detroit auto show will see Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull manufacturing plant continue to develop its capability in aluminum vehicle construction. It also marks the start of an incredible year for the British manufacturer, which will deliver 12 significant product actions in the next 12 months alone.
“Today’s announcements once again demonstrate our commitment to the UK and the advancement of a high-tech, high skilled, manufacturing-led economy,” says Jaguar Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth. “Jaguar Land Rover is committed to delivering more great products. It is that innovation and relentless quest for new technologies that sets our products apart. We want to offer customers greater choice, with even more exciting vehicles, crafted with that special British flair. We want to improve the quality of life for our customers and for our own employees, creating opportunities for more people to be part of the Jaguar Land Rover experience.”
To support the introduction of its new aluminum and lightweight technologies, Jaguar Land Rover has already invested £1.5bn (US$2.27bn). The new facilities represent the largest single investment in the Solihull plant in its 70 year history and created an impressive ‘factory within a factory’. Incorporating Europe’s largest aluminum body shop and final assembly hall – collectively the size of 22 football pitches, the new state-of-the-art facilities bring the Jaguar brand to Solihull for the first time, and continue to showcase the company’s pioneering leadership in aluminum vehicle construction which dates back to 2003 with the introduction of the seventh-generation Jaguar XJ.
As a result of the continued developments at Solihull, Jaguar Land Rover is creating an additional 1,300 new jobs at the site. Applications for the new roles are now being accepted and following its commitment to enhancing employment opportunities for former service personnel in the wake of the Invictus Games, Jaguar Land Rover is welcoming applications from military personnel who are leaving or have left the services.
The Solihull site recently welcomed the first Jaguar in its history, with the introduction of the new Jaguar XE, which begins production in the Spring.
Jaguar Land Rover continues on its path of measured and sustainable growth with record full year retail sales in 2014 of 462,678, double that of 2008. A 2014/15 fiscal year investment of £3.75bn (US$5.71bn) in product creation has seen the introduction of a host of new and exciting products and business expansion. The company’s headcount has increased to 32,000, 10,000 more than were employed just four years ago.
News of the new employment opportunities follows confirmation that the UK’s largest manufacturing investor will add a further new Jaguar model to its product portfolio. The five-seat performance crossover, named the Jaguar F-PACE, follows the Jaguar XE into the new facilities within the company’s Solihull plant.
The production version of the C-X17 concept, F-PACE will go on sale in 2016. “We received such an overwhelmingly positive response to the C-X17 concept car last year that we just had to make it a reality,” says Ian Callum, director of design at Jaguar. “The Jaguar F-PACE, inspired by the F-TYPE, represents a perfectly judged balance of performance, style and practicality. It offers a unique combination of Jaguar sports car inspired exterior design, fused beautifully with a thoroughly practical and spacious luxury interior. The F-PACE is our family sports car.”
The Jaguar F-PACE couples class-leading interior space and exceptional on-road dynamics with five-seat usability to produce a true performance crossover. The vehicle will be feature Jaguar’s innovative aluminum-intensive architecture and advanced suspension system, boasting all-wheel drive and Jaguar’s All-Surface Progress Control technology.
“In 2015 we will celebrate Jaguar’s 80th year,” says Andy Goss, Jaguar Land Rover global sales director, speaking in Detroit. “We have started it by announcing our first performance crossover which we consider to be the ultimate practical sports car – a car that builds on the marque’s founding ideals of Grace, Pace and Space to become one of the most innovative Jaguars we’ve ever developed. The F-PACE has now begun its engineering and development testing program ahead of the new model going on sale in 2016.”
The F-PACE will be manufactured in Solihull, UK. Further vehicle details will be revealed later this year.
