JLR in drive to go electric
Jaguar Land Rover today committed to electrifying every car it launches from 2020 as it unveiled its vision of the future of motor transport.
The company, which employs 1,400 workers at its engine factory on the i54 site near the Shropshire border, has even revealed an electrified new version of its iconic E-Type Jag sports car.
The commitment underlines a dramatic transformation of the West Midlands-based luxury car maker over the next three years in moves that could bring thousands of new jobs to the region.
It also puts JLR on the fast track to meeting the Government 's aim of ending the sale of new diesel and petrol cars and vans from 2040.
Chief executive Ralf Speth has already revealed his target of doubling JLR's workforce to 90,000 and boosting car production to one million cars a year by 2020.
At a meeting of leading business and political figures 10 months ago, proposals were laid out to start making electric cars in the West Midlands by 2019.
The company is already gearing up to sell its first all-electric car, the Jaguar I-Pace, next year. It is being built in Austria because the facilities to manufacture an electric car in the UK do not exist yet. Jaguar Land Rover clearly aims to change that.
And it has also revealed its long term picture of the future with its Future-Type virtual concept of autonomous, connected and shared transport for 2040 and beyond.
The unveiling came at today's launch of the Jaguar Land Rover Tech Fest ,which runs from Friday until Sunday at Central Saint Martins, at the University of the Arts London.
Mr Speth said: “Every new Jaguar Land Rover model line will be electrified from 2020, giving our customers even more choice. We will introduce a portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles. Our first fully electric performance SUV, the Jaguar I-Pace, goes on sale next year.”
The JLR engine plant on i54, which sits alongside the M54 at junction two, is undergoing a major development that is doubling its size to two million square feet, making the site a £1 billion factory that will be at the heart of the car company's future. With 1,400 already working on the site, the expansion is set to create hundreds more jobs for local people.
Today's event also sees JLR show off its new electric Jaguar E-type Zero. Acclaimed by Enzo Ferrari as “the most beautiful car in the world”, the E-type now has electric power for the first time. Based on the 1968 Series 1.5 Roadster it features a cutting-edge electric powertrain for 0-60mph in just 5.5 seconds. The car was engineered by Jaguar Classic at the company’s new Classic Works in Coventry.
Looking ahead another 20 years JLR has come up with its Jaguar Future-Type concept, with an intelligent steering wheel called Sayer at its heart. Named after Malcolm Sayer, designer of the E-type, this steering wheel doesn't just stay in your car – it lives in your home. Sayer is the first voice activated artificial intelligence steering wheel that will be able to carry out hundreds of tasks. The advanced speech recognition software will allow it to answer your questions, connect you to the news, organise your travel and select your entertainment.
Sayer will know what is in your fridge and even order shopping or a pizza. It will serve as the key either to your own car or a shared vehicle, says JLR. It also builds on the driverless car technology JLR is currently testing on UK roads.
