Jaguar Land Rover to accelerate its electrification plans
Jaguar Land Rover plans to manufacture a range of new electrified vehicles at its manufacturing plant in Castle Bromwich. The move is the next significant step in delivering on the company’s commitment to offering electrified options for all new Jaguar and Land Rover models from 2020.
Speaking about the plans, Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The future of mobility is electric and, as a visionary British company, we are committed to making our next generation of zero-emission vehicles in the UK. 2 “We are co-locating our electric vehicle manufacture, Electronic Drive Units and battery assembly to create a powerhouse of electrification in the Midlands.”
The first new electric car to be produced will be the Jaguar XJ. The new all-electric model will be created by the same team of designers and product development specialists responsible for delivering the Jaguar I-PACE.
This move is the next stage in the execution of Jaguar Land Rover’s electrification strategy. In January the company confirmed plans to bring battery and Electric Drive Unit. JLR is also planning a new Battery Assembly Centre at Hams Hall, operational in 2020. Together with the Wolverhampton Engine Manufacturing Centre for the same. These facilities will produce the next generation of Jaguar and Land Rover models.
Ralf Speth, CEO, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Convenience and affordability are the two key enablers to drive the uptake of electric vehicles to the levels that we all need. Charging should be as easy as re-fuelling a conventional vehicle. “Affordability will only be achieved if we make batteries here in the UK, close to vehicle production, to avoid the cost and safety risk of importing from abroad. The UK has the raw materials, scientific research in our universities and an existing supplier base to put the UK at the leading edge of mobility and job creation.”
