Investment into the UK automotive industry has been gradually climbing since the end of the financial crisis, with firms including Bentley and Vauxhall having channelled increasing amounts of money into improving their nationwide facilities. This week, Jaguar Land Rover has announced a mammoth £600 million investment into its Castle Bromwich production and research plant, which is another huge boost to the West Midlands.
The most significant aspect of the investment will see £320 million spent on a new state of the art aluminium bodyshop, which will hopefully further the manufacturer’s aim of transforming the Castle Bromwich plant into a global centre for excellence for lightweight vehicle manufacturing.
This will be supported by a new £16 million blanker line to create body panels and parts for further transformation using the £50 million Aida press line currently under construction.
Chief executive officer at Jaguar Land Rover, Dr Ralf Speth, claims that the new investment underlines the manufacturer’s dedication to remaining an integral part of the UK automotive industry.
He says; “Jaguar Land Rover continues to demonstrate its unwavering support to the British automotive industry through sustained investments in advanced research, technology and innovation.
“This investment, made here in the heartland of our UK business operations, signals the confidence we have in this region to support the creation, engineering and manufacturing of ultra-low emission, premium British products, today and in the future.”
The £600 million funding boost will be the largest single investment made at the Castle Bromwich base, which has so far seen more than £400 million spent as a means of upgrading facilities in preparation for the manufacturing of the new Jaguar XF.
Another £30 million from the investment will be dedicated to upgrading the plant’s trim and final assembly hall – allowing the XF to become 80 kilograms lighter than the nearest competitor and giving Jaguar Land Rover an edge in terms of industry leading technology.
In order to support the work being conducted at Castle Bromwich, Jaguar Land Rover will more than double the operational footprint of its Whiteley Advanced Design and Engineering Centre, with the upcoming 62 acre development adding an area equivalent to 30 football pitches to the existing 55 acre site.
This will allow Jaguar Land Rover to take on a greater number of highly skilled product development engineers, many of whom will examine ways in which the company can create ultra-low emission vehicles whilst retaining the feel and power of the traditional Jaguar car.
Dr Speth continues; ““Our expansion at Whitley will help ensure the sustainable growth of Jaguar Land Rover, with the development of ultra-low emission technologies.
“Design leadership, technical innovation and engineering excellence lie at the heart of this responsible business and we are committed to investing in the skills needed to continue this success into the future.
“Great people and great products are the essence of this great British company.”
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