Jaguar Land Rover invests $1.5B to build factory in Slovakia
Fri, Dec 11 2015
JLR won't yet say what vehicle it will build in Slovakia, other than it will be an all-new aluminum model. The 2018 timing for the plant's start of production seems to coincide with the launch of the radically different next-gen Land Rover Defender, though.
Earlier reports suggested that JLR also considered locations in North America, particularly Georgia, and Europe for the new factory. However, the company signaled the Slovakia choice earlier this year when it signed a letter of intent with the government there in August. The automaker then did a final feasibility study before committing to the site.
The new factory continues JLR's recent manufacturing expansion. The company opened an engine plant in the UK last year and a factory in China. There will also be one soon in Brazil, and it will reportedly bid to buy the Silverstone Circuit as a new headquarters.
JAGUAR LAND ROVER CONFIRMS NEW FACTORY IN SLOVAKIA
• New world-class premium manufacturing facility confirmed in Nitra
• The next stage of the Company's plans for sustainable global growth
• Today's announcement also supports long-term investment in the UK
Bratislava, Slovakia – Jaguar Land Rover has confirmed that it will be the first British carmaker to open a manufacturing facility in Slovakia. The announcement follows an agreement between the company and the Government of the Slovak Republic to build a new plant in the city of Nitra, western Slovakia.
The new world-class GBP1 billion premium manufacturing facility will eventually employ around
2,800 people.
Today's announcement follows Jaguar Land Rover's recent confirmation to double its investment in its engine plant in the UK to almost GBP1 billion – the largest injection into a new British manufacturing plant in decades creating several hundred new jobs.
Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover commented, "Jaguar Land Rover is delighted today to welcome Slovakia into our family. The new factory will complement our existing facilities in the UK, China, India and Brazil and marks the next step in the company's strategy to become a truly global business.
Slovakia has an established premium automotive sector, which represents 43% of the country's overall industry. It has more than 300 suppliers in close proximity and an excellent logistics infrastructure; this confirmed our decision that this country was the ideal location.
"The heart of our company will always be in the UK, where our design, technology and manufacturing capabilities are based. It is our creativity and innovation which makes Jaguar Land Rover the leading boutique automotive brand, offering exceptional products for our customers."
As part of Jaguar Land Rover's commitment to deliver more lightweight vehicles, the plant will manufacture a range of all-new aluminium Jaguar Land Rover vehicles. It is anticipated that the first cars will come off the production line in late 2018. The factory will have an initial capacity of 150,000 vehicles and construction will commence in 2016.
Today's announcement follows the signing of an agreement by Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover and Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia, in Bratislava.
Robert Fico, Prime Minister said, "We are glad that Jaguar Land Rover has chosen Slovakia for its new world-class manufacturing facility. This decision shows that, with a stable and solid business environment, Slovakia is an attractive place for investors. And the marriage of Slovak craftsmanship and British engineering holds great promise."
Jaguar Land Rover has made significant progress in building its international manufacturing presence over the last year. It opened a new joint venture in China and commenced construction of its local manufacturing plant in Brazil at the end of 2014. The creation of new international plants allows Jaguar Land Rover to offer its customers even more exciting new models, protect against currency fluctuations and create a globally competitive business.
During this time, the Company has invested heavily in its UK vehicle manufacturing facilities at Castle Bromwich, Halewood and Solihull to support the introduction of all-new vehicles such as the Jaguar XE, XF and F-PACE, Range Rover Evoque Convertible and Land Rover Discovery Sport. In addition, it plans to expand its advanced engineering and design centre at Whitley, Coventry and invest in the National Automotive Innovation Centre at the University of Warwick. Jaguar Land Rover's sustained investment supports the delivery of the UK's wider industrial strategy.
Over the past five years, Jaguar Land Rover has employed more than 20,000 people taking its workforce to more than 37,000 and invested more than GBP11 billion in new product creation and capital expenditure.
Jaguar Land Rover has selected Slovakia as the location for its next manufacturing site following robust analysis of a number of locations around the world including other European countries, United States and Mexico.
• New world-class premium manufacturing facility confirmed in Nitra
• The next stage of the Company's plans for sustainable global growth
• Today's announcement also supports long-term investment in the UK
Bratislava, Slovakia – Jaguar Land Rover has confirmed that it will be the first British carmaker to open a manufacturing facility in Slovakia. The announcement follows an agreement between the company and the Government of the Slovak Republic to build a new plant in the city of Nitra, western Slovakia.
The new world-class GBP1 billion premium manufacturing facility will eventually employ around
2,800 people.
Today's announcement follows Jaguar Land Rover's recent confirmation to double its investment in its engine plant in the UK to almost GBP1 billion – the largest injection into a new British manufacturing plant in decades creating several hundred new jobs.
Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover commented, "Jaguar Land Rover is delighted today to welcome Slovakia into our family. The new factory will complement our existing facilities in the UK, China, India and Brazil and marks the next step in the company's strategy to become a truly global business.
Slovakia has an established premium automotive sector, which represents 43% of the country's overall industry. It has more than 300 suppliers in close proximity and an excellent logistics infrastructure; this confirmed our decision that this country was the ideal location.
"The heart of our company will always be in the UK, where our design, technology and manufacturing capabilities are based. It is our creativity and innovation which makes Jaguar Land Rover the leading boutique automotive brand, offering exceptional products for our customers."
As part of Jaguar Land Rover's commitment to deliver more lightweight vehicles, the plant will manufacture a range of all-new aluminium Jaguar Land Rover vehicles. It is anticipated that the first cars will come off the production line in late 2018. The factory will have an initial capacity of 150,000 vehicles and construction will commence in 2016.
Today's announcement follows the signing of an agreement by Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover and Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia, in Bratislava.
Robert Fico, Prime Minister said, "We are glad that Jaguar Land Rover has chosen Slovakia for its new world-class manufacturing facility. This decision shows that, with a stable and solid business environment, Slovakia is an attractive place for investors. And the marriage of Slovak craftsmanship and British engineering holds great promise."
Jaguar Land Rover has made significant progress in building its international manufacturing presence over the last year. It opened a new joint venture in China and commenced construction of its local manufacturing plant in Brazil at the end of 2014. The creation of new international plants allows Jaguar Land Rover to offer its customers even more exciting new models, protect against currency fluctuations and create a globally competitive business.
During this time, the Company has invested heavily in its UK vehicle manufacturing facilities at Castle Bromwich, Halewood and Solihull to support the introduction of all-new vehicles such as the Jaguar XE, XF and F-PACE, Range Rover Evoque Convertible and Land Rover Discovery Sport. In addition, it plans to expand its advanced engineering and design centre at Whitley, Coventry and invest in the National Automotive Innovation Centre at the University of Warwick. Jaguar Land Rover's sustained investment supports the delivery of the UK's wider industrial strategy.
Over the past five years, Jaguar Land Rover has employed more than 20,000 people taking its workforce to more than 37,000 and invested more than GBP11 billion in new product creation and capital expenditure.
Jaguar Land Rover has selected Slovakia as the location for its next manufacturing site following robust analysis of a number of locations around the world including other European countries, United States and Mexico.
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By Chris Bruce
See also: Jaguar Land Rover may buy Silverstone racetrack for new HQ, Jaguar Land Rover may buy Silverstone racetrack for new HQ, Jaguar Land Rover to skip 2016 Detroit Auto Show.