JLR's Expansion in Midlands for Range Rover and EV Development

author: FutureCar Staff    

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is looking to hire 300 new technicians at its facilities in Solihull, Gaydon, and Whitley. These roles are aimed at supporting the increased production of Range Rover vehicles as well as the testing and maintenance of new battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

The luxury car manufacturer plans to recruit approximately 100 maintenance technicians for its Solihull plant. These technicians will be responsible for operating and maintaining highly automated production facilities in a new body shop, which is estimated to cost around £130 million. The new body shop will facilitate a 30% increase in Range Rover and Range Rover Sport production in the future.

In addition to the roles in Solihull, technicians will also receive training to work on a new body production system costing approximately £70 million. This system will support the production of the highly anticipated new electric Range Rover at the Solihull facility.

Furthermore, JLR is planning to hire around 200 technicians and test engineers to be based at its Gaydon Engineering Centre and Whitley Powertrain facility. These individuals will contribute to the testing and development of JLR's next generation electric vehicles.

All technicians and test engineers will undergo electrification training as part of JLR's Future Skills Programme. This training will ensure that they possess the necessary skills for the production and maintenance of electric vehicles.

Barbara Bergmeier, Executive Director of Industrial Operations at JLR, expressed excitement about welcoming new individuals to the company and helping them develop their skills. She emphasized the importance of these roles in JLR's transition to electrification.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, praised JLR's commitment to the region and its recognition of the talented local workforce. He believes that this investment will bring about positive impacts on skills, prosperity, and opportunities for families in the area.

JLR is investing £15 billion over five years in its industrial footprint, vehicle programs, autonomous technologies, AI, digital technologies, and people skills. This includes the transformation of its manufacturing facilities in Solihull, Wolverhampton, and Halewood to produce electric vehicles.

The next electric vehicles to be launched by JLR will be the new Range Rover BEV, with pre-order books opening later this year. This will be followed by the introduction of three reimagined modern luxury electric Jaguars, starting with a 4-door GT built in Solihull.

SOURCE: JLR

FutureCar Staff