Jaguar Land Rover’s overseas expansion good for Coventry and Warwickshire says LEP

A DECISION by Jaguar Land Rover to develop a new manufacturing facility in Slovakia will complement rather than impact its UK heartland, a business leader has said.

Jonathan Browning, chairman of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said the continued expansion of the business would continue to supply opportunities for firms in the LEP area and beyond.

JLR said with its established premium automotive industry, Slovakia was an attractive development opportunity.

It said the move marked the next step in its strategy to become a more competitive global business by expanding its manufacturing operations into new international locations in the future.

Dr Ralf Speth, JLR’s CEO, said: “The expansion of our business globally is essential to support its long-term, resilient growth. As well as creating additional capacity, it allows us to invest in the development of more new vehicles and technologies, which supports jobs in the UK.

“With its established premium automotive industry, Slovakia is an attractive potential development opportunity for us. The new factory will complement our existing facilities in the UK, China, India and the one under construction in Brazil.”

A feasibility study with the Slovakian Government will explore plans for a factory with an installed capacity of up to 300,000 vehicles over the next decade. As part of JLR’s commitment to deliver more lightweight vehicles, the plant would manufacture a range of aluminium vehicles. It is anticipated that the first cars will come off the production line in 2018.

Browning said: “This decision underlines Jaguar Land Rover’s phenomenal growth in global markets and it is only natural they want to balance their operations across those markets.

“The great news is that despite its overseas success, Jaguar Land Rover’s roots remain firmly in Coventry and Warwickshire which was underlined by its decision in March to buy around 40 acres at Whitley Business Park to expand its investment in research and development.
 
“This will enable Jaguar Land Rover to further expand in our area and attract high value and highly skilled jobs as well as boost the economy across Coventry and Warwickshire.”