Jaguar Land Rover has announced that they will develop of a new manufacturing plant in the city of Nitra in western Slovakia. The move marks the next step in the company’s strategy to become a more competitive global business by expanding its manufacturing operations into new international locations in the future. The iconic British car maker also plans to expand its advanced engineering and design centre at Whitley, Coventry and invest in the National Automotive Innovation Centre at Warwick University. Jaguar Land Rover’s sustained investment supports the delivery of the UK’s wider industrial strategy. Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover, said, “The expansion of our business globally is essential to support its long-term, resilient growth. As well as creating additional capacity, it allows us to invest in the development of more new vehicles and technologies, which supports jobs in the UK.
The feasibility study underway with the Slovakian Government will explore plans for a factory with an installed capacity of up to 300,000 vehicles over the next decade. The plant would manufacture a range of aluminium JLR vehicles. It is anticipated that the first cars will come off the production line in 2018.