JLR unlikely to become UK’s biggest manufacturer – Bailey
A LEADING automotive academic has poured cold water on suggestions Jaguar Land Rover could become Britain’s biggest car manufacturer.
Press speculation had suggested the Tata-owned firm could be planning to ramp up production to 650,000 vehicles a year by 2014 – around four times its current level.
It is thought extremely unlikely the company’s UK production facilities could cope with such a large increase. However, the news that Tata is to begin assembly of the Freelander in India and is trying to find a joint venture partner for a production operation in China do lend the idea credence.
Nevertheless, Professor David Bailey, of Coventry Business School, said the suggested levels were extremely high.
“I think the figure is a little off the mark. I don’t believe such volumes are feasible at the moment but I definitely think the company wants to raise production levels – and I don’t think 300,000 is unrealistic,” he said.
“The company undoubtedly wants to cash in on the popularity of its vehicles, especially in these new markets so I think a doubling of capacity could take place.
“The company has said it is looking at introducing new models, of which the new Range Rover Evoque is the latest. A lot could depend on whether it decides to produce an entry level Jaguar to replace the gap left by the end of production of the X-Type.”
Evidence of the company’s growth plans was outlined to an audience at the recent Science Capital automotive event in Birmingham.
Andrew Haggie, senior manager-materials engineering for JLR, said the company had invested £400m in research and development and had upgraded facilities at its Castle Bromwich plant to incorporate the latest advanced manufacturing techniques.
The company is now bidding to attract the brightest young talent to the industry to work on its next generation of vehicles – it is even raiding the games industry to get designers to work on new in-car systems.
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