Jaguar to invest £100m after sales success
After the launch of the XE in the US this summer and the record-breaking sales of the F-Pace, Jaguar is reinvesting
Jaguar is celebrating a successful summer and year-on-year sales boost by reinvesting £100m into its Castle Bromwich, Birmingham production line.
The F-Pace SUV has been the fastest selling Jaguar in history and with the compact exec XE being launched Stateside this summer, Jaguar has seen its year-on-year sales grow for August by 72%.
The plan is to move the XE production from Solihull where it is currently to Castle Bromwich, meaning that XE, XF, XJ and F-Type will be made there, while the F-Pace and Range Rover Sport remain in Solihull.
This additional £100m investment follows £500m already invested in the site over the past two years, a site that was designed for closure in 2008.
To keep up with the demand for the popular large-SUVs, Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull plant will continue to operate three shifts, 24 hours a day.
Wolfgang Stadler, Jaguar Land Rover’s Executive Director of Manufacturing, said: “The significant investment to create two centres of excellence in aluminium vehicle manufacturing, utilising shared technologies, was deliberate. It gives us the flexibility to quickly respond to consumer demand for our growing range of products.”
Nicolas Guibert, Castle Bromwich Operations Director, said: “2016 is a pivotal year for Castle Bromwich. The arrival of the XE sees us increase our model lines and volume. The commissioning of our all-new press line and launch of our body shop to support the introduction of XE means Castle Bromwich is future-proof.”
