Jaguar Land Rover is once again the largest automaker in Britain, accounting for more than 30% of all domestic car production last year. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says that UK car manufacturers set a record in 2016, producing 1,727,471 vehicles.
How this works out under Brexit remains to be seen. The importance of the UK market varies substantially for different automakers. Jaguar Land Rover, Honda and Ford have “strong exposure to risks,” says consultancy LMC. (Brexit Automaker Winners, Losers – Predictable and Surprising) In the U.S., JLR sold 105,000 vehicles, more than 2:1 Land Rovers, a 25% increase in the booming light truck/SUV market. (What Auto Companies are at Risk Under Trump?
Jaguar Land Rover’s three vehicle manufacturing plants in Liverpool and the West Midlands increased the company’s UK production output 8% over the previous year to 544,401. Jaguar Land Rover vehicles account for five of the top ten British best-sellers globally. Jaguar Land Rover has increased production from its British plants by more than 240% since 2009 when total annual production stood at 158,000 units.(Luxury SUVs Will Outsell Luxury Cars for the First Time?)
“Jaguar Land Rover has once again shown that investment in new models, skills and advanced technology are critically important to ensure Britain has a thriving automotive industry – even in the face of current uncertainty,” said Andy Goss, Jaguar Land Rover Global Sales Director.
The company’s record year was driven by 15 all-new and significantly enhanced models. The Jaguar F-Pace SUV – the brand’s highest-volume model – propelled Jaguar production forward by 67%, while the Range Rover Evoque SUV, regained the position of Land Rover’s highest-volume namplate following the introduction of the Convertible.
Since 2010 Jaguar Land Rover has invested close to £4 billion in its four British manufacturing plants, which together produce ten model lines and the company’s advanced Ingenium diesel engines. This investment includes the installation of Europe’s largest aluminum body shop, two new press lines and significant technology upgrades across all assembly lines.
The company’s manufacturing headcount has grown from 7,700 in 2010 to more than 19,000 today. With more than £3 billion committed to product creation this fiscal year, Jaguar Land Rover says it has no plans to slow down, creating more products that are coming.
