Jaguar confirmed right now that it’ll construct a brand new vary of electrified automobiles at its Fortress Bromwich plant within the UK, with the next-generation all-electric Jaguar XJ set to be the primary new EV within the group.
Jaguar Land Rover made the announcement on the identical day the final current-generation Jaguar XJ rolled off the manufacturing line.
The electrical XJ might be developed by the identical group accountable for the Jaguar I-Tempo, JLR stated. Jaguar’s Fortress Bromwich plant might be transformed into the “UK’s first premium electrified automobile plant,” with the flexibility to help the carmaker’s new electric-capable Modular Longitudinal Structure platform.
A earlier report stated an electrical Vary Rover could possibly be made on the identical new platform, however for now, JLR has solely confirmed an electrical XJ. CEO Ralf Speth stated within the firm’s launch,
The way forward for mobility is electrical and, as a visionary British firm, we’re dedicated to creating our subsequent technology of zero-emission automobiles within the UK. We’re co-locating our electrical automobile manufacture, Digital Drive Items and battery meeting to create a powerhouse of electrification within the Midlands.
Together with that, Jaguar is looking for “authorities and business to work collectively to carry giga-scale battery manufacturing to the nation.” The carmaker famous a must construct up the availability chain and develop into much less reliant on important international supplies for batteries.
The announcement additionally eases issues about job losses on the firm amid ongoing Brexit issues. Jaguar stated manufacturing the brand new XJ and different EVs will safeguard hundreds of jobs. The carmaker introduced cuts earlier this yr — nonetheless, these had been managerial positions, not production-line jobs.
Jaguar notes that it plans to supply electrified choices for all new Jaguar and Land Rover fashions from 2020. The corporate’s new Battery Meeting Centre will come on-line subsequent yr, although the timeline on bringing the electrical XJ to market remains to be unclear.
After the brand new XJ, it’s additionally unsure how lots of the different automobiles to be constructed on the Fortress Bromwich plant going ahead might be all-electric.
Final month, the carmaker introduced it was partnering with BMW to develop next-generation electrical powertrains.
