JLR announces Rs 15,000 crore platform investment

Jaguar has confirmed that its BMW 3-series rival will be launched in 2015, as a result of a new £1.5bn (around Rs 15,300 crore) investment in manufacturing which will lead to 1700 new jobs in Solihull. The investment will secure the development of Jaguar Land Rover’s new aluminium monocoque architecture.

The first model to use the new modular architecture will be Jaguar’s 3-series rival. Jaguar says the car will be the “most efficient, advanced and refined premium sports sedan ever seen in the C/D segment”. The baby Jaguar will be the first recipient of the new family of ‘Hotfire’ petrol and diesel engines to be built at JLR’s new Engine Manufacturing Centre in Wolverhampton. Jaguar Land Rover boss, Ralf Speth announced the news on the eve of the Frankfurt motor show where the firm will show its Jaguar C-X17 SUV concept. He confirmed the news was part of the firm’s strategy to deliver new and enhanced product ranges in new segments and markets.

Dr Speth said, "Today’s announcement signals Jaguar Land Rover’s ambitions to push the boundaries and redefine premium car ownership. At Jaguar Land Rover we place the customer at the heart of everything we do and the introduction of a world class all-new aluminium vehicle architecture means we will be more competitive, flexible and efficient delivering exciting new products for our customers around the world. 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." 

The capital investment includes the new platform architecture, aluminium body shop and trim and final assembly hall.