Talking Business: Cameron hails Jaguar Land Rover export drive
PRIME Minister David Cameron has hailed the role of the automotive sector, and companies such as Jaguar Land Rover in helping to shape the UK’s economic recovery.
Mr Cameron said the sector was playing a major role in boosting export levels, especially to the emerging economies of China and India.
The coalition leader made his comments during a visit to JLR’s Land Rover plant in Solihull, where he toured the production line for the all-new Range Rover.
Exports and the automotive sector are subjects featured in a supplement from TheBusinessDesk.com based on our Talking Business series of interviews, carried out in partnership with KPMG. Graham Mosedale, chairman of JLR supplier Sertec Group is one of our featured interviewees. Click here to download it.
“Jaguar Land Rover’s continued success, and rising exports, demonstrates the strength of the automotive sector in the UK, and the crucial role this industry plays in growing and rebalancing the economy,” said Mr Cameron.
“Their success, particularly in fast growing markets like China and India, shows that UK manufacturing can compete and thrive on the global stage, and is testament to the excellent and highly skilled work force they have here in Solihull.”
JLR has invested £370m in its Solihull facility to support the production of the recently launched flagship Range Rover.
In addition to touring the Lode Lane facility’s new state-of-the-art aluminium bodyshop, which is the largest of its kind in the world, Mr Cameron was also given a brief tour of the new customer handover centre where senior engineers showed him the first of the new Range Rovers set for export to India.
Dr Ralf Speth, JLR CEO, said, “The all new Range Rover, built at Solihull, symbolises our commitment to investing in Britain and exporting around the world. It is the world’s first SUV to feature an advanced all-aluminium body structure, delivering significantly reduced weight, improved performance and enhanced sustainability.
“We are proud to show Prime Minister David Cameron the new clean and energy-efficient technologies and innovations at our Solihull manufacturing plant. As part of our significant investment, we have installed a state-of-the-art aluminium body shop, which produces the world’s single largest body panel. We use a process of riveting and bonding the structure which means that traditional energy intensive construction methods are eliminated.”
The company sold 29,893 vehicles in November, an increase of 14% on the same month last year. During the first 11 months of the year, JLR sold 324,184 vehicles, up 32% on 2011.
November sales increased in almost every major market with sales up in China (43%), Asia Pacific (26%), the UK (15%) and Europe (12%). In North America, sales were down 7%, reflecting model year changeover effects and increased competitive conditions.
In a rare setback for the business, it has announced it is axing development of its C-X75 hybrid supercar, left, claiming the current economic climate is the wrong time to launching a car likely to cost somewhere between £800,000 to £1m.
The C-X75 programme, which has been developed in collaboration with the Williams F1 team, was unveiled in a blaze of publicity at the Paris Motor Show two years ago.
It is expected the development programme of five vehicles will continue until May next year after which three will be sold at auction, one retained for demonstrations and the last destined for a future Jaguar museum.
