Jaguar Land Rover to create 1,100 new jobs

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is to create 1,100 new jobs at its Castle Bromwich plant in the West Midlands to support production of its new XF Sportbrake estate car and other models.

JLR chief executive Dr Ralph Speth said the launch of the company’s latest models would attract new customers to the brand “as we look to expand our global reach and further enhance our position in the market”.

New jobs at Castle Bromwich will support production of JLR's new XF Sportbrake model

“Innovation in design, engineering and technology is at the core of our business and for the UK, this means we will continue to invest in new products, develop new technologies and enhance the skills of our employees,” he added.

JLR said the launch of the new models would also support "thousands of jobs in the UK supply chain", as well as taking its staff numbers in the UK to nearly 24,000.

Much of the production is aimed at export markets, particularly Russia and China, whose economy has showed signs of slowing down in recent months.

However Speth told the BBC this morning that he believed demand from China for JLR’s products would continue to show strong growth.

Business secretary Vince Cable welcomed what he called “fantastic news” for the Castle Bromwich plant.

“This expansion is a clear demonstration of Jaguar Land Rover's continuing commitment and investment in the UK,” he added.

JLR said its Castle Bromwich plant would make the new 2013 XF and XJ ranges. The XF range will also see the addition of the XF Sportbrake derivative which “will be the most versatile Jaguar built to date”.

The company said it had sold more than 29,000 vehicles around the world in the first six months of this year, up 19% on the same period in 2011.

“All of Jaguar's key markets, including China, the UK, the US and Europe, have delivered year-on-year sales improvements,” it added.

Meanwhile Peugeot, Europe's second-largest car manufacturer, reported first half losses of €819m (£630m).

It said it planned to extend its already-announced cost-cutting programme, which include the loss of 8,000 jobs and the closure of one of its two Paris production sites. The group said it would not break even until 2014.

[ Back ]