Jaguar Land Rover confirmed Brazil Production facility in Rio de Janeiro.

• Jaguar Land Rover marks start of construction of local manufacturing facility in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Confirms first overseas Education Business Partnership Centre in Itatiaia
• First British carmaker to build a manufacturing facility in Brazil

Jaguar Land Rover has started construction of its R$750m state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the state of Rio de Janeiro and confirmed plans to build its first overseas Education Business Partnership Centre there. The ground breaking ceremony was attended by the state's Governor, Luiz Fernando.

Building on the success of the company's education programme in the UK, the new centre will provide a range of classroom activities to help local schoolchildren develop key skills, work awareness and inspire them to pursue rewarding careers at Jaguar Land Rover in the future.

Dr. Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, said: "Our new facility in Brazil is an important strand of Jaguar Land Rover's long term sustainability. The start of construction today is a significant milestone and represents another step forward in our plans to create a truly global manufacturing footprint.

"The confirmation of Jaguar Land Rover's first overseas Education Business Partnership Centre demonstrates our commitment to developing the skills needed by tomorrow's workforce to create a sustainable premium automotive manufacturing industry in Brazil." 

Jaguar Land Rover works closely with the communities close to its manufacturing facilities around the world and, whilst construction is just beginning in Brazil, Jaguar Land Rover has already forged strong links with the communities in both Itatiaia and nearby Resende.

In addition to the education centre, Jaguar Land Rover has recently launched the first phase of its 'Inspiring Tomorrow's Workforce' training programme in Itatiaia. Working in conjunction with the Brazilian national training provider, SENAI, the programme offers work experience, training and employability qualifications for unemployed 17 - 26 year olds to prepare them for employment in the automotive industry. It is the first training programme of this nature that Jaguar Land Rover has deployed in outside of the UK.

Manufacturing in Brazil

Jaguar Land Rover is the first British automotive company to invest in a manufacturing factory in Brazil. In the programme's first phase, the new 60,000m² manufacturing facility in Itatiaia will employ 400 people and will have an annual capacity of around 24,000 vehicles.

As part of its on-going commitment to the Brazilian automotive industry, Jaguar Land Rover will be sourcing a range of components from local suppliers as well as importing some parts from its global supply chain. In addition, Jaguar Land Rover is investing in its technical assistance services to help suppliers support increased levels of localisation in the future.

The new Discovery Sport has been confirmed as one of the vehicles that Jaguar Land Rover plans to build in Brazil, with the first customer cars are expected to drive off the production line in 2016. Since its reveal at the Sao Paulo Motor Show, the Discovery Sport has received a very positive reaction from Brazilian customers.

Dr Speth continues, "This new manufacturing facility will play an important role in providing vehicles that our customers in Brazil can love for life."

Jaguar Land Rover's first significant recruitment campaign is underway, in association with Itatiaia Town Hall. The company is looking for automotive mechanics, manufacturing operatives and the quality team to join its manufacturing team. 

According Mr. Luiz Fernando Pezão, Governor of State of Rio de Janeiro "Jaguar Land Rover is paving the way to consolidate Rio de Janeiro as the second biggest automotive hub in Brazil. We can consider this an historic achievement for our State. Rio de Janeiro offers the perfect conditions to Jaguar Land Rover, allowing the company to build this facility in Itatiaia, where we already have a very well structured automotive hub, with qualified workforce and suppliers.

In addition to Jaguar Land Rover manufacturing facility, we're proud to know about the Education Centre that the company will build in our region, the first in Latin America. It's an honour to host this very important company, and its investments around R$ 750 million, will generate very positive results."  

With the start of construction in Brazil and the opening of its joint venture factory in China, Jaguar Land Rover is beginning to realise its plans to develop further an international manufacturing footprint. The creation of new international manufacturing operations allows Jaguar Land Rover to increase its presence in markets which have been identified as significant growth opportunities. These new facilities create additional capacity and augment production at the company's three vehicle manufacturing facilities in the UK.

Jaguar Land Rover in Brazil

Jaguar Land Rover has had a presence in the Brazilian market for more than 20 years. Land Rover has held almost 50% of the premium SUV market for three consecutive years and Jaguar is one of the country's fastest growing premium brands with sales increasing almost four-fold in 2013.

Jaguar Land Rover is investing in its dealer network in Brazil and, by the end of March 2015, it will have 42 dealers covering all of the main territories.

Brazil is one of Jaguar Land Rover's top ten markets and the Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Sport and Land Rover Discovery are the strongest selling vehicles in the country.