Engineering news
Car giant Jaguar Land Rover is to boost investment in its new i54 engine factory near Wolverhampton by £165 million, creating 700 new jobs.
The factory will produce a new generation of technologically advanced, lightweight 4-cylinder low emission diesel and petrol engines. It will open later this year, with the first engines due to come off the production line in 2015.
The plant will employ 1,400 workers. Total investment at the site has now reached £500 million.
The company made the announcement at the Geneva Motor Show. Chief executive officer Dr Ralf Speth said: “Jaguar Land Rover's new engine manufacturing centre in the UK is a clear demonstration of our business strategy guiding our investment plans.
"Not only does it bring our engine supply back to our production doorstep, but it gives us significant new resource as we continue to innovate with new products and markets.”
The engine plant is the first in the company's history to be entirely designed by Jaguar Land Rover. At almost 100,000 square meters, it will include an engine testing centre alongside the manufacturing and assembly halls.
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “Having lobbied JLR and the last Labour government to set up a new engine plant in the West Midlands, we're delighted that this facility is going to be expanded. This is a fantastic boost for manufacturing.”
He added: “JLR is going to build its own engines and it is going to manufacture them here in Britain. This is a massive vote of confidence in the skills of the UK workforce.”
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “Jaguar Land Rover has added almost 9,000 new jobs at its UK sites over the last two years. These additional 1,400 jobs at the Wolverhampton engine manufacturing centre is more good news for UK manufacturing."
Cable added: “With 2.5 million engines produced in this country last year, the UK has established a reputation as a leading global engine manufacturer. JLR's increased investment in the plant to more than £500 million will reinforce that position.”
The new generation of engines is currently being developed at Jaguar Land Rover's advanced research and development facility. The high performance engines will have class-leading levels of refinement and significant reductions in vehicle emissions, said Jaguar Land Rover.