Jaguar Land Rover pledges new jobs as global production steps up
JAGUAR Land Rover has pledged to create hundreds more jobs as it strives to meet demand for its vehicles.
TheBusinessDesk.com’s deputy editor Duncan Tift was at the Geneva Motor Show today to hear about the company’s plans for the future and to see the official launch of two new important models; the Jaguar XF Sportbrake and the show-stopping Range Rover Evoque convertible.
The manufacturer, which has already created 4,000 new jobs in the past year, said hundreds more could be on the way as the firm rolls out its production operation globally into India, China and Brazil.
It has also pledged six new Jaguar product launches this year, which in addition to the new Sportbrake include the special edition high performance XKR.
Speaking at the Geneva Motor Show today, Jaguar Land Rover chief executive Ralf Speth said the firm planned to invest “over proportionally” in the brand to meet the demand.
Watched by JLR owner Ratan Tata, Dr Speth said the investment would follow four principles; strengthening the premium essence of the brand, its product portfolio, its global presence and its authentic Britishness.
“We will invest over proportionally in the product and expand our global footprint in terms of sales and operations.
“This will include operations in India, China and Brazil – not instead of UK production but in addition to it,” he said.
“We have a commitment to the UK. We have created 4,000 jobs in the last 18 months and as we look to realise the full potential of our brands so there will be the need for hundreds of others,” he added.
The commitment was underpinned by the official launch of the new Jaguar XF Sportbrake, left – an estate version of the award-winning XF – and one of the stars of the Motor Show so far, the new Evoque convertible concept.
The concept, pictured here, drew large crowds and many remained on the stand long after the firm’s press conference had ended to get a glimpse of the new vehicle.
Gerry McGovern, design director of Land Rover, said the concept had been to create the world’s first authentic convertible SUV and while the car is still a test bed there are high hopes it will be put into production.
The unveiling was accompanied by a slick video presentation showing the car driving around London, which hinted at things to come.
Mr McGovern said demand for the new Evoque had even taken JLR by surprise and in the six months since it took to the roads he said there had already been a demand from customers to personalise their vehicles.
He said the new convertible would follow in the footsteps of the original Evoque and create new markets for the company.
“The Evoque lends itself beautifully to a convertible and what we wanted to achieve was the joy of open top motoring with the luxury of a Range Rover and I think we have achieved that,” he said.
