Land Rover has announced that its new plant in Itatiaia, Brazil, will build the Range Rover Evoque alongside the already confirmed Discovery Sport.
The first Range Rover Evoque made in Brazil is expected to roll off the assembly line in early 2016. The carmaker will invest a total of R$750 million (£240 million) in the new plant by the end of 2020.
The new facility will supplement UK production and will have the capacity to build around 24,000 vehicles annually for the Brazilian market. Itatiaia will be Jaguar Land Rover’s first wholly-owned manufacturing plant outside of the United Kingdom.
“Brazil and the surrounding regions are very important to Jaguar Land Rover. The introduction of the Range Rover Evoque to our factory in Itatiaia highlights our long-term commitment to the Brazilian market,” said Terry Hill, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover Latin America.
In a first phase, the new 60,000 square-meter manufacturing facility in Itatiaia will employ 400 people. Jaguar Land Rover is currently installing the manufacturing equipment, with production to start in early 2016.
The company will source a range of components from local suppliers, such as Benteler and IAC, as well as import some parts from its global supply chain. Jaguar Land Rover is also investing in its technical assistance services to help suppliers support increased levels of localization in the future.
Present in Brazil for more than 20 years, Jaguar Land Rover is currently expanding its dealer network, which includes over 40 dealers throughout the country.
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