Is the East Midlands next for Jaguar Land Rover?
VEHICLE manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover could be scouring the East Midlands for a suitable location to base a new manufacturing facility, reports have suggested.
It is believed surveyors acting for the company are already scouring the region for a 400,000 sq ft logistics unit in which to store parts to support its ongoing expansion plans.
A search for a suitable site closer to its West Midlands manufacturing facilities is thought to have proved fruitless and rather than commit to a new-build the company is looking for a unit it can move into straight away.
According to website SHD Logistics the company is also understood to be searching separately for a 30-40 acre plot which could support a manufacturing facility. Surveyor Montagu Evans is understood to be assisting the manufacturer.
Not surprisingly, JLR is staying tight-lipped about the situation rather than force up the price of land.
However, the rapid pace of expansion at the firm and a desire to increase production volumes to meet demand for its products lends credence to the reports.
The firm has already confirmed it is in talks with authorities in Brazil over the possibility of opening a new factory there to support a growing demand for its vehicles in Latin America.
Its new £0.5bn engine plant near Wolverhampton will shortly give the firm control over its engine supply, while in the past fortnight the company has also committed £50m towards a new innovation centre at the University of Warwick.
Another factor determining the location of the search could be access to skilled labour. The East Midlands while not having any large automotive OEM, does have a strong manufacturing sector based on aerospace and train making. Therefore, a readily available pool of skilled labour and workers with transferrable skills could be important.
