Jaguar Land Rover today inaugurated its first assembly plant outside the UK with Chinese partner Chery Automobile Company.
Located in Changchu, China, the new facility will build the Range Rover Evoque and two more Jaguar Land Rover models from 2016. Part of a RMB10.9 billion ($1.78 billion) joint venture investment, the new plant will have an annual production capacity of 130,000 units and will build vehicles exclusively for the Chinese market.
Occupying an area of almost 400,000 square meters, Chery Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Company’s plant has taken two years to build. Located in the Changshu Economic Development Zone north of Shanghai, the factory is expected to build three Jaguar Land Rover models by 2016, with a total annual output of 130,000 units.
Land Rover didn’t say what models it will build besides the Range Rover Evoque, but the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Jaguar XE are prime candidates, given that the Discovery Sport shares the platform with the Evoque and that the plant will feature “cutting-edge aluminum and steel technologies” and an aluminum body shop – as you probably know, the Jaguar XE’s bodywork is 75 percent aluminum.
“The opening of this world-class facility is an important milestone for Jaguar Land Rover. Since its launch, one in five Range Rover Evoques have been sold in China. Our decision to manufacture the Range Rover Evoque in Changshu is a result of our commitment to bringing more Chinese vehicles to Chinese customers,” said Dr. Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover.
China is Jaguar Land Rover’s largest single market, with the company selling more than 100,000 vehicles in the last fiscal year.
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