Jaguar-Land Rover is to create 1,300 new jobs at its Solihull plant, where the new F-Pace performance crossover and other all-aluminium models will be constructed.
The roles will focus on "extending our industry-leading expertise in aluminium and lightweight technologies", the company said at the Detroit motor show, where it has confirmed the name of the new Jaguar model, which is set to go into production in 2016.
The F-Pace will be built at Solihull alongside its sister model, the new Jaguar XE, which begins production in the first half of this year. The Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Land Rover Discovery and Land Rover Defender are also made at the site.
The 1,300 new posts announced are in addition to the 1,700 created in 2013 for the introduction of the Jaguar XE. The workforce at Solihull has nearly doubled over the past three years, with 9,450 currently employed there.
Jaguar-Land Rover chief executive, Ralf Speth, said: “Jaguar-Land Rover is committed to delivering more great products. It is that innovation and relentless quest for new technologies that sets our products apart. We want to offer customers greater choice, with even more exciting vehicles, crafted with that special British flair. We want to improve the quality of life for our customers and for our own employees, creating opportunities for more people to be part of the Jaguar-Land Rover experience.”
Jaguar-Land Rover has so far invested £1.5bn (Rs 13,000 crore) in aluminium and lightweight technologies. At Solihull, it has built a 'factory within a factory' to deal with the build of the new XE and, subsequently, the F-Pace. The facility incorporates Europe’s largest aluminium body shop and final assembly hall.
Jaguar-Land Rover enjoyed record full-year sales in 2014. It sold 4,62,678 vehicles, which is nine percent up on 2013. It was the car maker's fifth consecutive year of sales growth
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