JLR global plants?
July 2nd, 2010 by Richard Aucock
TATA Motors boss Carl-Peter Forster has indicated Jaguar Land Rover models WILL be produced outside the UK.
This will most likely involve the setting up of production plants in India or China, for local market consumption.
Speaking at the SMMT International Automotive Summit, he said that to grow beyond a certain point in China, the brand needed to manufacture there.
‘Our growth to date is arguably hampered by not building there. We must be seen as local players.’
The UK will, however, remain JLR’s key manufacturing location – and it is imperative that full vehicle engineering, research and development continues here ‘The product must be created in the country of origin.’
Building models in other countries has ‘done no harm to BMW’. It is failing to create cars in their country of origin that is the problem.
Future is smaller
There will also be a change in the vehicles sold. We will see more JLR small-capacity turbo petrol and diesel engines, along with hybrid diesel and petrols, and more four-cylinder turbodiesels.
‘We will announce a smaller range.’ Forster said there was potential for one or two smaller vehicles, plus ‘lateral expansion into new body variants.’
But this will not come with a volume-chasing strategy. Jaguar, for example should ‘not be a volume D-sector brand.
‘Our main rival sells 500,000 units a year – we are not in that market! We seek a unique position, not a volume position.’
This means Jaguars can be more distinctive. ‘The XJ is an example. It is pointed in its execution,’ without being polarising.
‘Jaguar has to be premium.’