JLR delivers a jobs boost for the Midlands
Jaguar Land Rover today delivered a massive jobs boost to the region as it unveiled its £1.5 billion plan for the first new car to be fitted with engines made at its new factory near Telford.
Another 1,700 workers are to be recruited at JLR's Solihull factory to build the long-awaited "baby" Jag, designed to compete with BMW's 3-series luxury saloon. The new saloon car will go sale in 2015.
And thousands more workers will be needed at Jaguar Land Rover's component supplier companies to meet the needs of the fast-growing luxury car-maker, bringing fresh joy for companies in the manufacturing chain such as Telford's Stadco.
JLR has recruited 6,000 workers in the region over the last two years as it produced new Jaguars and Land Rovers and it is estimated another 24,000 jobs have been created in its supply chain.
The latest car will be based on the eye-catching C-X17 concept car unveiled overnight, in Frankfurt.
This has been designed as Jaguar's first-ever SUV crossover, built around on an aluminium floor plan that will form the basis of the new Jaguar saloon car, set to be powered by four-cylinder engines made at the factory currently under construction on the i54 site beside the M54.
The design of the new saloon is still be kept tightly under wraps but it will include models powered by the same V6 petrol engine fitted in the F-Type sports car, offering speeds of up to 186mph and emissions below 100g of CO2 per kilometre.
JLR chief executive Ralf Speth said: "Today's announcement signals Jaguar Land Rover's ambitions to push the boundaries and redefine premium car ownership." He added: "Jaguar Land Rover is a business driven by design, technology and innovation and this investment and level of job creation is yet further evidence of our commitment to advancing the capability of the UK automotive sector and its supply chain."
Star comment: Car maker is leading the way
