JLR inaugurates its first overseas manufacturing facility with Chery

Jaguar Land Rover announced the opening of its inaugural overseas manufacturing facility, in China. The award-winning Range Rover Evoque will be the first model to be built under the first Chinese-British automotive joint-venture, with Chery Automobile Company Ltd.

The
plant inauguration of Chery Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Company follows the two-year construction of a factory, which is almost 400,000 sq m. Located in the Changshu Economic Development Zone north of Shanghai, the factory is part of a RMB 10.9-billion joint-venture investment plan.

Dr. Ralf Speth, CEO, Jaguar Land Rover and Yin Tongyao, Chairman & CEO, Chery Automobile Company welcomed the formal opening of the facility that aims to be the most advanced and efficient car factory in China.

"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.

Yin added, "Chery Jaguar Land Rover remains committed to delivering excellence in its quest to lead the Chinese premium automotive industry through its historic British lineage, world-class quality and unique shared value approach."

By 2016, the facility is expected to be building three Jaguar Land Rover models with total production capacity of 130,000 units a year. Those vehicles will be manufactured in highly-automated press shops - including cutting-edge aluminium and steel technologies - along with a steel body shop comprising 306 robots, an energy-efficient paint shop and an ergonomically-friendly final assembly line. A new aluminium body shop, the first in China, is already under construction, at the Changshu facility, to support the introduction of new Jaguar products.

"The plant opening marks the completion of our start-up phase of which we are incredibly proud, and now we will continue to build with the same passion and pride, to realise our goal to be the premium automotive manufacturer inspiring excellence in China's automotive industry," said Chris Bryant, President of Chery Jaguar Land Rover joint.

Posted in: Asia Pacific,Assembly/Manufacturing Plant,Chery Automobile,China,Chris Bryant,Dr. Ralf Speth,Investment,Jaguar,Jaguar Land Rover,Joint-Venture,Land Rover,Range Rover,Yin Tongyao