JLR ‘plans fresh Halewood expansion’
JAGUAR Land Rover has reportedly ear-marked its Halewood plant on Merseyside for expansion, a move which could create around 1,000 jobs.
The factory, which is this year celebrating 50 years of manufacturing, has already seen dramatic employment growth from 1,500 to 4,500 over the last three years, mostly thanks to the worldwide popularity of the Range Rover Evoque.
A blueprint for a convertible version of the Evoque has already been developed and this could be one of several new models made a Halewood, reports in the Sunday Times said.
An un-named source told the newspaper that plans for the job creation at the site were “well-advanced”, but had been delayed by the threat of a strike by DHL staff who deliver parts to the production lines in the factory.
A spokesman for India-owned JLR spokesman said reports about potential job creation at Halewood were “speculation”, adding: “”We do not share details of our future investment and recruitment plans.”
JLR’s ambitious expansion plans are well-known. Ralf Speth, chief executive, proposes to launch 40 models in the next five years, and aims to double car sales to 750,000 by 2015.
Should the manufacturer confirm expansion at Halewood, many more jobs are likely to be created in the supply chain, Last month US firm International Automotive Components said its North West manufacturing site, which lies next to Halewood, had increased its workforce from 90 to 450 in the last two years as production of the Evoque was ramped-up.
