After conducting a feasibility study in USA, Canada Mexico, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR) has finalised Slovakia as its location for a new plant. The Tata Motors subsidiary signed a letter of Intent with the Government of the Slovak Republic for the development of the plant at the city of Nitra in the Western part of the country.
JLR is planning to build the factory with an installed capacity of up to 300,000 vehicles over the next decade. The plant, which is expected to be ready by 2018, would manufacture a range of JLR vehicles predominantly made using aluminium.
The Slovakian plant will be an addition to the existing assembly and production facilities in UK, China, India, and an under-construction unit in Brazil.
With a range of new vehicles such as the Jaguar XE, Jaguar F-PACE, Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport lined up for domestic and international market, the new plant is expected to ease the pressure of inevitable increase in production.
The brands will concentrate operations in UK with the design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities divided among the plants at Castle Bromwich, Halewood and Solihull.
The Tata-owned brand experienced steady growth over the past years and ventured in to new markets expanding global footprint. The major step was the Chery Jaguar Land Rover, its joint venture in China, which produces Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport. JLR has also signed a contract manufacturing agreement with Magna Steyr in Austria.
In 2014, JLR sold 462,678 vehicles, up by nine percent over the previous year, a press note indicates. The brands also plan 50 product actions over the next five years.
