Jaguar Land Rover has announced plans to manufacture new electrified vehicles at its factory in Castle Bromwich, UK. This announcement is the next important step in fulfilling the company's commitment to offer customers electrified powertrains for all new Jaguar and Land Rover models from 2020.

Jaguar Land Rover accelerates on electrification

©Jaguar Land Rover

The future of mobility is electric and, as a visionary British company, we are committed to manufacturing our next generation of zero emission vehicles in the UK.

We are working to locate our electrical assembly pole in the Midlands: manufacture of electric vehicles, electronic drive units and battery assembly.

Dr. Ralf Speth - Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover

The first new electric car produced at the factory will be Jaguar's flagship luxury sedan, the XJ. During its eight generations of production, the XJ has been designed, designed and manufactured in the UK and exported to over 120 countries. She has been the choice of business leaders, celebrities, politicians and royalty for over five decades,

The news was confirmed to employees of Castle Bromwich on the occasion of the announcement of the end of production of the current XJ. Recognized as a pioneer of innovation during its 50 years of production, the new XJ will build on its historic characteristics: design, performance and unparalleled luxury.

The new 100% electric model will be created by the same team of designers and engineers who were responsible for the development of the first high-end electric SUV in the world, voted the car of the year for 2019, the Jaguar I-PACE.

Today's announcement, which preserves thousands of jobs in the UK, is an important step in implementing Jaguar Land Rover's electrification strategy.

In January, the company confirmed its intention to locate the battery and electric drive unit (EDU) assembly in the Midlands, investing in new and existing facilities. These investments were provided for in the plans previously communicated by the company.

Hams Hall's new battery assembly center, operational in 2020, will be the most innovative and technologically advanced in the UK with a capacity of 150 units per year. Together with the Wolverhampton Engine Manufacturing Center (EMC), the headquarters of Jaguar Land Rover's global EDU production, these facilities will power the next generation of Jaguar and Land Rover models.

The major transformation of Castle Bromwich to become the first high-end electrified vehicle plant in the UK will be the most significant in its history. Later this month, construction will begin on the new facilities and technologies required for Jaguar Land Rover's Longitudinal Modular Architecture (MLA). Designed and manufactured in-house, MLA enables flexible production of clean and efficient diesel and petrol vehicles alongside fully electric and hybrid models.

The extension of Jaguar Land Rover's range of electrified vehicles will allow customers to be offered a wider choice of vehicles adapted to their lifestyle. However, achieving consumer interest in these solutions remains a challenge.

Ease of use and affordable prices are the two key elements to allow electric vehicles to take their place on the market. Charging an electric vehicle should be as simple as refueling a traditional thermal vehicle.

An affordable price will only be achieved if we manufacture batteries here in the UK close to vehicle production to avoid the cost and safety risk of importing. The UK has the raw materials, scientific research in our universities and an existing supplier base to put the UK at the forefront of mobility and job creation.

Dr. Ralf Speth - CEO of Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover, now engaged in the manufacture of electric cars in the United Kingdom, calls on the government and industry to work together so that the country sets up a "giga-site" for the production of batteries. This builds on the UK's Battery Industrialization Center and the government's Faraday Challenge project, which are essential for next-generation technology to create smaller, denser and cheaper batteries. These milestones will also support and expand the existing supply chain, making the UK less dependent on essential materials purchased from overseas.

Together, these initiatives will help attract future “giga-factories” to the UK to enable the production of batteries in sufficient numbers to meet the growing demand from car manufacturers.

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