Jaguar Land Rover set to double size of i54 engine plant

JAGUAR Land Rover is set to double the size of its new engine plant in southern Staffordshire, the company has announced.

Senior JLR management confirmed the move at a press conference at the Geneva Motor Show today.

The move involves pumping a further £150m into the i54 operation, near Wolverhampton, creating an additional 700 new jobs. This is in addition to the 750 already being recruited for the new factory and the thousands of others expected to follow in the local supply chain.

The company is believed to be making the commitment because of the huge demand for its vehicles on the world stage.

The additional investment brings the total amount pledged by JLR parent Tata Motors into the new plant to more than £0.5bn and underlines the company’s commitment to increase the firm’s presence on the world stage.

Engine production will begin in 2015.

Dr Ralf Speth, JLR’s chief executive, said: “Jaguar Land Rover’s new Engine Manufacturing Centre is a clear demonstration of our business strategy guiding our investment plans.

“Not only does it bring our engine supply back to our production doorstep, but it gives us significant new resource as we continue to innovate with new products and markets.”

It is an open secret that the company wants to massively increase output to around 600,000 vehicles a year and a ready engine supply puts its destiny firmly in its own hands.

It is believed to be backing the investment with a raft of new models; one of which is thought to be a new Jaguar saloon to rival the best-selling BMW 3-Series.

The company also used the Geneva platform to announce eight new or refreshed products for 2013.

The firm launched its all-new Range Rover at the end of last year and sales of the flagship 4×4 began in January. A new version of the Range Rover Sport is expected to be unveiled later this year while July will see the launch of the new two-seater Jaguar F-Type sports car.  

The company will also be showing off the world’s first nine-speed gearbox, which it has installed in its new generation of Land Rovers.

At last year’s event the company wowed visitors and journalists alike with a convertible concept of its best-selling Range Rover Evoque. A decision on whether this concept will be put into full production is still awaited.