And the first product to be build at the JLR plant in China will be..... The Evoque.

The Range Rover Evoque will be the first model built at Jaguar Land Rover's new China factory, company CEO Ralf Speth said.

"We are starting with the vehicle with the highest demand (in China)," Speth told journalists at a press event in London.

Jaguar Land Rover may add production of its new Land Rover Discovery Sport at a later date, he said. "We are starting with one vehicle at first. We have to train our employees and bring them up to speed," Speth said.

The factory in Changshu, northeast of Shanghai, will officially open in October with production starting shortly after. Jaguar Land Rover's joint venture with China's Chery Automobile will run the plant.

It is the automaker's first full-scale assembly plant outside the United Kingdom and includes an engine plant that will start production in 2015. That plant will produce the automaker's new range of Ingenium four-cylinder engines.

China is a fast-growing market for Jaguar Land Rover. In the first six months, the automaker sold 62,479 vehicles in China, out of a global volume of 240,372.

The plant also will build vehicles to be sold under a new joint-venture brand, which was a condition of the Chinese government's approval of the factory.

Asked whether Jaguar Land Rover will build a long-wheelbase version of the new Jaguar XE midsize sedan in China, Speth replied: "If we do a longer version, then we have to produce the vehicle in China; otherwise it doesn't make sense."

Last year, Bernstein analyst Max Warburton wrote that the automaker targets sales of 150,000 cars in China in 2015. He estimated the firm currently makes half of its global profits in China, thanks to strong demand for the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport.

Last year, Jaguar Land Rover made a profit before taxes of 2.5 billion pounds (24.9 billion yuan).

Jaguar Land Rover currently builds cars from kits in India, and the company also has announced plans to build a plant in Brazil with production scheduled for 2016. Speth said the company was in talks to build a plant in Saudi Arabia.

JLR to build new Engine facility in China, before the first plant is up and running ?

VEHICLE manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover could be set to expand its facilities in China even before its existing plant gets into full production.

Reports have suggested the company could be on the verge of committing to a new engine plant to support its new factory in Changshu, in the Jiangshu Province – a joint venture project with Chery.

The Financial Times said the new engine plant would be built on the same site as the Changshu facility although it would be unlikely to see development until after the company’s new engine plant on the i54 site outside Wolverhampton had begun production, which is expected this autumn in advance of the launch of the Jaguar XE.

Such a move in China is a further example of how keen the company is to expand its international presence, especially in emerging markets.

It would also support JLR’s intention of doubling its current production capacity to around 600,000 vehicles per annum.

The Chinese engine plant would support both the JLR-badged vehicles being produced at Changshu and the domestic product it will be producing in partnership with Chery.

The newspaper quotes Ian Harnett, JLR’s purchasing director as saying the opportunity to develop the Chinese plant exists although he would not speculate on any timetable.

The company has been keen to control its own engine supply for some time as it gives the company greater control over its manufacturing strategy.

The FT quoted sources which suggested that construction of an engine factory in China could begin within the next two years. In the meantime, engines produced in Wolverhampton will be shipped to China.

“We will be building more engines in the UK than we do in China, for certain,” Mr Harnett told the Financial Times.

JLR chief executive Dr Ralf Speth said last month that it was likely the first vehicles produced at the factory would be rolling off production lines by the end of this year, ready for sale to Chinese buyers early next year.

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First V60 Polestar cars leave Volvo's Torslanda plant.

The first Volvo V60 Polestar cars have left the Volvo Torslanda factory plant on their way to customers around the world as production has begun.

”We are very happy to see the first ever complete production cars from Polestar be built in the Volvo factory. It is a satisfying result after many hours of work by the people of Polestar and Volvo behind this,” said Henrik Fries, S/V60 Polestar Technical Project Manager.

The Volvo factory in Torslanda celebrated 50 years recently with a total of over 6.8 million cars having been produced, starting with the Amazon model in 1964 and all the way to the new V60 Polestar today. The Polestar model also marks the first ever independent partner being introduced to the production process.

”We are delighted to see the first cars leave the factory and it has been an exciting journey together with Polestar to see these cars from the drawing board to the actual finalised product being produced with us on the factory line,” said Magnus Hellsten, Vice President Car Manufacturing Europe at Volvo Cars.

A total of 750 cars will be produced of the S60 and V60 Polestar model this year, heading to customers in Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the USA.  The UK market is receiving the most with 125 cars, all of which will be fully specified with every factory option possible. In fact, the only option each customer has is what colour to choose. The V60 Polestar is available in the stand-out colour of Rebel Blue, Black Sapphire Metallic, Bright Silver Metallic and Ice White.  Although offering a fully loaded vehicle, complete with a bespoke package with racing technology for the road, pricing has been kept in line with the rest of Volvo’s product range. The on-the-road price of £49,775 offers great value for money for a unique vehicle with rarity and performance in abundance.

”It is an exciting process as there are many new and unique Polestar components that need to work seamlessly in the Volvo factory without interrupting the production of other models. It was a truly proud moment to see the first Polestar blue cars on the production line together with the XC/V70, S80 and other models. The cooperation with Volvo works really well and we are looking forward to an exciting future together,” said Fries.

The new Volvo V60 Polestar features a thoroughly developed chassis with high performance dampers and brakes which in combination with four-wheel drive and 350 hp from a turbo charged 6-cylinder engine 

Land Rover confirms Halewood as the plant to build the new Discovery Sport (Well, where else could it have been built ?)

• 250 new jobs created by Jaguar Land Rover as company announces plans to build the Land Rover Discovery Sport at Halewood.
• New jobs see the Halewood workforce treble in four years.
• More than £200m invested at the plant to support the Discovery Sport introduction.

250 new jobs have been created by the UK’s largest automotive employer as the Land Rover Discovery Sport is today confirmed as the latest model to be produced at Jaguar Land Rover’s Halewood plant.

The additional jobs announced to support Jaguar Land Rover’s newest model will see the Halewood workforce reach 4,750 – more than treble the number employed there in 2010.

Commenting on the announcement, Jaguar Land Rover CEO, Dr. Ralf Speth, said: “The Land Rover Discovery Sport is the next in a line of exciting new products to come from Jaguar Land Rover. I am delighted that Halewood – and Liverpool – has been selected for this new investment. It is totally deserved, and strengthens the ‘special relationship’ that bonds Jaguar Land Rover to this great city.”

The Halewood plant, which is already home to the company’s fastest selling model of all time - the Range Rover Evoque, has benefited from a £200 million investment to support the introduction of the first member of the all-new Land Rover Discovery family. This takes the total amount invested in Halewood over the last four years to almost £500 million.

The new Land Rover Discovery Sport, which will go on sale in 2015, will be the most versatile and capable vehicle in the compact SUV segment. It is the first member of an all-new family of Discovery vehicles, inspired by the Discovery Vision Concept which was spectacularly showcased at the New York International Auto Show.

Richard Else, Jaguar Land Rover Halewood Operations Director, said: “I am delighted to be welcoming the new Land Rover Discovery Sport to Halewood. Its arrival has been a further boost to the region and to our committed and loyal workforce who are all passionate ambassadors for this great company.

“In many ways, Halewood has embodied the transformation of Jaguar Land Rover. We have seen our work force treble and production quadruple in just four years. Today we are operating three shifts, 24-hours a day to meet global demand and I am confident that the team will rise to the challenge and deliver a flawless launch of this exciting new model.”

The arrival of this exciting new vehicle at Halewood has doubled investment in the plant since 2010. In addition to a £45 million state-of-the-art Aida servo press line installed in March of this year, Jaguar Land Rover has installed 260 new automated robots, industry leading laser welding facilitates and a number of state of the art equipment monitoring & reporting systems to support an unrelenting focus on quality.

Halewood became home to Jaguar Land Rover’s top selling model, the Range Rover Evoque in 2011. Within two years the plant had produced more than 200,000 vehicles, a record volume for a single vehicle line at any Jaguar Land Rover facility. Today the Range Rover Evoque continues to attract new customers to the Land Rover brand. Sales in May were up 12% year on year with more than 80% of production exported to 170 global markets.

Evoque and Freelander 2 (LR2) to be built at new Chinese plant.

Jaguar Land Rover plans to build the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Freelander SUVs in the company's new China plant, a source said.

JLR said last week that the company will start production at the factory with joint venture partner Chery Automobile late this year.

The company has not said which models it will build in the plant in the eastern city of Changshu.

However, a source familiar with the company's plans told Automotive News Europe that JLR plans to produce the Evoque and Freelander at the factory.

Local production will help JLR boost sales in China's booming SUV market. SUV sales in the country rose 41 percent to 319,200 in May, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

JLR's China sales increased by 53 percent to 10,880 vehicles in in May, according to company data. Five-month sales rose 46 percent to 50,900.

The factory will have an initial annual capacity of 130,000 units.

JLR also plans to open an engine plant next to the vehicle factory to build the company's new range of four-cylinder engines.

The vehicle plant also will build cars for a Chery/JLR joint brand, a company spokesperson said. No date was given for production of the cars, which are expected to be based on existing JLR products.

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Sanouvile: New Plant, New trafic and 50 years of excellence.

• Opened in 1964, the Sandouville plant celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Opening a new chapter in its history, the site is about to start building LCVs for the first time: New Trafic (to be launched this summer) and the high-roof version of the Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro, previously built in Spain (Nissan plant in Barcelona) and the UK (General Motors plant in Luton). 
• This new human and industrial adventure involved a complete transformation of the site. Following an industrial and cultural transformation involving an investment of €230 million and three years of exceptional efforts, the plant can be compared to a greenfield site. 
• The year 2014 sets the scene for the renewal of the plant, with a secure long-term future on the promising LCV market. The challenge now is to successfully conduct the start-up and ramp-up of New Trafic and the Opel / Vauxhall Vivaro while continuing to maintain the highest standards for Laguna and Espace, which the site will continue to build at the same time until the arrival of their successors, after which they will be produced at the Renault Douai plant.

A historic transformation: the transition from a passenger car plant to an LCV plant 

Construction work began on the Sandouville plant at the end of 1963, in order to meet growing demand for cars. The site occupied a strategic geographical position: on the banks of the Seine and close to  the port of Le Havre. Over the past 50 years, Sandouville has built more than eight million vehicles. The site has specialized in passenger cars since its founding, building first  R 16, then R 12 (1970), R 15 and R 17 (1972), R 30 (1975), R 20 (1976), R 18 (1978), R 25 in 1984, R 21 in 1986, Safrane in 1992, Laguna in 1992, Vel Satis in 2001, Espace IV in 2002, and Laguna III in 2007.

In 2011, the Renault group announced plans to invest €230 million in the long-term future of the Sandouville plant as part of a new project: to build light commercial vehicles at the site rather than passenger cars. Leader on the LCV market since 1998, Renault was keen to relocate production of New Trafic along with the high-roof version of the Opel / Vauxhall Vivaro. The entire Renault brand LCV range for Europe will now be built in France: Kangoo at Maubeuge, Master at Batilly and Trafic at Sandouville.

It took three years of exceptional efforts, from summer 2010 to summer 2013, to transform the plant and put new resources in place, for a result comparable to a greenfield site:

• In the press shop, 5,000 tonnes of cast iron to manufacture LCV production line tooling, i.e. three-quarters of the weight of the Eiffel Tower’s metal frame.
• In body assembly: 20,000 m² of space was freed up to install new tooling with 187 new robots to make the 5,000 spot welds required to assemble the body of New Trafic.
• In the paint shop: a complete transformation was necessary to adapt the process to LCV dimensions. The anti-corrosion treatment tunnel was raised by 70 cm and the paint booth extended by 12m. Resources specific to LCVs were put in place: cradles and conveyor belts to help operators adopt the correct positioning in applying part of the 120m of mastic beading, and interior robots to apply mastic and paint the interior of the van. This process is unnecessary on passenger cars, since the interior is lined.
• In final assembly, employees at Villiers-Saint-Frédéric and Sandouville have put in place the new LCV line. Until summer 2011, Espace IV and Laguna III were built on two separate lines. In September 2011, the two passenger cars were moved to the same line. As part of this process, 130 machines were moved, upgraded or acquired, and 240 assembly line workstations adapted. Owing to its specific dimensions, New Trafic has a dedicated line.

This transformation also marks a cultural shift and a human challenge that paves the way for a return to two production shifts (only one since 2009). Site management placed particular emphasis on developing the skills of operators through extensive training: 

• 20 days of training for each operator prior to starting the job,
• quality and safety support for personnel with respect to the new installations.

For Jérome Moinard, Director of the Sandouville plant: “The transition from building passenger cars to building LCVs is a major industrial event and a new page in the history of Sandouville. After three years of work and an investment of €230 million, the site is like new, whereas in reality, it is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The site is at a pivotal point, closing one chapter and beginning another. For plant employees, it is first and foremost a source of pride and the promise of a secure future.”

The LCV market: the promise of a secure future 

Sandouville is a key site in the LCV production base of the Renault brand, on a buoyant market. Renault markets a broad range of LCVs (between 2 and 22 m3) to meet the needs and expectations of business customers. The brand is European No. 1 in the LCV market for the 16th consecutive year with market share of 14.5% at end-2013. In the first quarter of 2014, Renault reported a 4.8% rise in global LCV sales (10% for the Group as a whole).

More specifically, Trafic is an enduring success. Renault has sold more than 1.6 million Trafic vehicles since production started in 1980. In France, Trafic leads its segment with a share of 36.6% in 2013. The launch of the new generation will help Renault consolidate its position as European No.1 in LCVs. With 270 body versions, more than 100 colours, and vehicle adaptations built into the production flow, New Trafic will seek to carry on from its predecessors. Its ambitions will be to build loyalty and to win new customers looking for a reliable, innovative vehicle meeting high standards of performance.

To support customers and continuously improve customer satisfaction, Renault is continuing the deployment of the PRO+ network of business centres for business users. At end-2013, the Renault Pro+ network included 520 centres, of which one-quarter outside Europe.

“For 50 years, Sandouville plant has developed a unique expertise on executive passenger vehicles  with one of the key focus on quality. Those are assets for the launch of New Trafic  whose customers expect notably excellence in perceived quality, comfort and robustness. With New Trafic, Renault offers a real “Van à Vivre”, modern, comfortable and more practical. Producing this new model enables Sandouville to progress a step forward in LCV manufacturing and play a key role in strengthening Renault’s leadership in light commercial vehicle in Europe,” explains Ashwani Gupta, Global Head of Renault LCV Division.

Renault in Normandy

Renault is the biggest industrial employer in the Haute-Normandie region. The Group has five industrial and engineering sites in the region: the  Sandouville bodywork assembly plant, the Cléon engine and gearbox plant, the Grand-Couronne international logistics platform, the Aubevoye test centre, and the Dieppe site, home of the Alpine brand and now a bodywork assembly site. Renault also has two  subsidiaries in this region: Sofrastock International a (specialist site managing the supply and distribution of small parts from suppliers) in Saint-André de l’Eure and Renault Tech, a vehicle conversion specialist, in Heudebouville.

BMW confirms US plant expansion and new X7 large SUV

• Investment of one billion U.S. dollars by 2016
• Production capacity to reach 450,000 vehicles Expansion will create 800 new jobs
• BMW Group extends X family with new BMW X7
• Production of new BMW X4 ramps up in Spartanburg

The BMW Group is expanding capacity at its U.S. plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. “To meet strong global demand for our BMW X models, we will invest a total of one billion U.S. dollars in our Spartanburg plant by 2016. This will increase annual production capacity by 50% up to 450,000 vehicles from 300,000 currently,” explained Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Norbert Reithofer, at a special ceremony in Spartanburg on Friday commemorating 20 years of production in the U.S.

Among the guests attending the ceremony held on the plant grounds were U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker; Governor of the state of South Carolina, Nikki Haley; Board of Management member for Production, Harald Krüger; and head of BMW Plant Spartanburg, Manfred Erlacher.

BMW X7 to be built in Spartanburg

BMW X3, X5, X5 M, X6 and X6 M models have been manufactured so far in Spartanburg, BMW’s centre of competence for X vehicles. Friday’s event celebrated the start of production of the BMW X4. Norbert Reithofer also announced a further expansion of the X model family: “With the BMW X7, we are developing another, larger X model, which we will produce at our U.S. plant for our world markets – once again underscoring our commitment to the U.S.”

During the ceremony, BMW Board of Management member for Production Harald Krüger talked about the importance of the U.S. to BMW Group’s overall production strategy: “The BMW Group aims for a good balance of growth between all markets and continents. The Spartanburg plant is an important building block in our international network of 28 production and assembly facilities in 13 countries today. It makes a vital contribution to profitable, globally-balanced growth.”

Krüger continued: “The BMW plant in Spartanburg is the best example of our successful strategy of ‘production follows the market’. The state of South Carolina has supported us as a valuable and reliable partner throughout our 20-year involvement in the region and played a decisive part in making the U.S. our second home.”

Spartanburg workforce increases to 8,800

The plant’s expansion will also increase the number of employees at the U.S. facility significantly. “Expansion at the site will create 800 new jobs, bringing the total workforce in Spartanburg to 8,800,” Reithofer explained. “It will also make Spartanburg the largest plant in terms of production capacity in our global production network,” he added.

According to a study released by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the annual export volume of BMW’s Spartanburg plant totals USD 7.5 billion – which makes the BMW Group’s American facility the largest vehicle exporter in the United States, based on total exports excluding NAFTA. Approximately 70% of Spartanburg’s production is exported to BMW markets around the world.

A recent analysis published by the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina found that BMW Group activities in South Carolina had a total impact of around USD 16.6 billion on the state economy. The BMW Group’s presence in South Carolina supports a total of 30,000 jobs. The study also cites the importance of the BMW Group for South Carolina’s economic standing, improving technological and manufacturing competitiveness and establishing a high level of training.

Since the start of production in 1994, Spartanburg has built more than 2.6 million vehicles for BMW customers around the world. The models BMW X3, X5, X5 M, X6 and X6 M are all produced at the plant. In the near future, a plug-in hybrid version of the BMW X5 will also be produced here. A total of 297,326 vehicles were manufactured in Spartanburg in 2013, with around 1,100 vehicles currently produced per working day. The Spartanburg site presently employs around 8,000 staff.

USA - BMW to confirm new X7, seven seater SUV next week.

The long-rumoured BMW X7 will be built at the company’s plant in Spartanburg, S.C., The Wall Street Journal reported today.

BMW will make the announcement on March 28, the newspaper reported, and will spend several hundred million dollars to expand the plant to build the seven-seat X7. 

BMW had been rumoured to be considering a three-bench vehicle to fill a gap in its crossover lineup.

Construction at the plant would boost production levels to 400,000 vehicles annually from 300,000 today, the Journal reported. The expansion would make the plant one of BMW’s largest and would add several hundred production jobs. BMW has 7,000 employees at Spartanburg.

The plant builds the X3, X5 and X6 crossovers, of which roughly half are exported to more than 130 countries. Most X7s produced at the plant will remain in the United States.

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Chrysler near deal to build Jeeps in China

Fiat Chrysler executives say they expect to complete an agreement this month for Jeep production in China.

CEO Sergio Marchionne told reporters at the Geneva auto show here that approval had been delayed because of Chinese concerns about the split ownership of Jeep prior to the Jan. 1 deal in which Fiat took full ownership of Jeep.

"On Jan. 1, 2014, when we announced the agreement with the [UAW retirement healthcare trust] for the acquisition of the minority stake in Chrysler, those issues vanished," Marchionne said. "We have been hard at work in the last 60 days putting what I consider to be the final touches on what I hope is the final agreement with our partners in China to try to get this process under way."

Fiat Chrysler will partner with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. to build a $771 million (4.73 billion yuan) assembly plant near the Chinese automaker's home base in the Panyu district of Guangzhou, Bloomberg reported in December. Capacity would be 60,000 units per year.

Mike Manley, head of the Jeep brand, said in an interview here that the Cherokee and the smaller Renegade shown at the auto show would be prime candidates for Chinese production.

Building vehicles in China would allow Jeep to avoid import tariffs. Manley said negotiations are on track, but added: "Having been involved with China for a long time, I have to say it with a little caution -- not indicating that I've got any concerns, but sometimes the process takes a little longer than you think, sometimes it's smoother."

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Jaguar Land Rover to build plant in Brazil, the first British car maker to do so.

• Agreement signed with the State of Rio de Janeiro to build a Jaguar Land Rover manufacturing facility
• Jaguar Land Rover will invest R$750m (£240m) in the programme
• Plant will have an annual production capacity of 24,000 vehicles
• Plant will initially employ 400 people, generating additional jobs in the supply chain
• First vehicles to come off the assembly line in 2016

Jaguar Land Rover is to become the first British carmaker to open a manufacturing facility in Brazil following a landmark agreement between the company and state authorities to build a plant in the State of Rio de Janeiro.

An agreement paving the way for construction of the plant has been signed by Phil Hodgkinson, Global Business Expansion Director of Jaguar Land Rover, and Sergio Cabral, State Governor of Rio de Janeiro.

Jaguar Land Rover’s planned expansion into Brazil is the next major step in the company’s strategy to increase its global manufacturing footprint and create additional capacity. This new facility will play an important role in supporting the significant growth opportunity identified in Brazil and across other South American markets.

Dr Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Brazil and the surrounding regions are very important. Customers there have an increasing appetite for highly capable premium products.

“This new programme will enable us to bring exciting new vehicles to them, with outstanding British design and engineering, creating a world-class Jaguar Land Rover facility incorporating leading premium manufacturing technologies.

“We have established excellent working relationships with the State of Rio de Janeiro, the City of Itatiaia & the Rio de Janeiro State Industrial Development Company and we look forward to attracting new customers to our business in this important market.”

Based in the City of Itatiaia, the new programme represents a total investment of R$750m (£240m) by 2020.

Construction of the premium manufacturing facility will commence in mid-2014. It is anticipated that the first vehicles will come off the assembly line in 2016, subject to the final approval of the plans from the Brazilian Federal Government under its Inovar-auto Programme. The new plant will have a capacity to build 24,000 vehicles annually for the Brazilian market.

Initially, the plant will employ almost 400 people. This number is expected to almost double by the end of the decade. This new manufacturing facility will also create additional jobs across the local supply chain network.

Following a detailed feasibility study, Jaguar Land Rover selected the City of Itatiaia, close to the heart of the emerging Regional Automotive Zone, due to its excellent logistics links, access to the local supplier base and skilled workforce.

Sergio Cabral, Governor of Rio de Janeiro State commented: "The choice of Rio de Janeiro to host the Jaguar Land Rover’s new facility is another historic achievement for our state. We offer perfect conditions to JLR to install its plant in Brazil, as we have an automotive hub in the South Fluminense region that concentrates qualified labour and important suppliers.

It is a privilege to welcome this great group, with an estimated investment of up to R$750 million and we are confident that this agreement will bring to Brazil extraordinary results."

Jaguar Land Rover in Brazil

Jaguar Land Rover has had a presence in the Brazilian market for more than 20 years. Its national sales company is based in Sao Paulo, employing almost 100 people. There are currently 35 dealers across Brazil with further expansion planned in the next year.

So far in 2013, Jaguar Land Rover sales in Brazil have increased by more than 40% to 9,549 vehicles over the 10 month period. The best-selling models in Brazil are Range Rover Evoque, Freelander and Discovery.

Jaguar Land Rover to build plant in Brazil ?

Jaguar Land Rover will invest about 1 billion reais ($436.9 million) to build a new manufacturing plant in Brazil's state of Rio de Janeiro, three government sources told Reuters.

Production at the factory, to be built in the city of Itatiaia, could begin as early as 2015, and an official announcement is scheduled for Dec. 3, said one of the sources, who is not authorized to speak on the record.

"Everything is very advanced with only minor details to be worked out," said Luiz Carlos Ferreira Bastos, Itatiaia's mayor. The factory could employ 500 to 700 people, he added.

The two other government sources, both with Rio de Janeiro's state government, confirmed that Land Rover plans to build in Itatiaia, although they declined to be named because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

Earlier this month, Jaguar Land Rover, owned by India's Tata Motors, said it plans to expand manufacturing and increase production in markets outside its UK home base, particularly in China and Brazil.

The decision comes after rival brands BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi all decided to build plants in Brazil, spurred by government moves to raise taxes on imported vehicles, while offering tax breaks for automakers that increase domestic investments.

"Jaguar Land Rover confirms that it is carrying out a study on the installation of a manufacturing unit in the country," a company representative told Reuters on Monday. "At this time, we can not confirm the size of the investment or other details of the study."

Negotiations started at the beginning of this year, one of the sources said, with Rio de Janeiro's state government offering tax breaks and fiscal incentives to help attract the company.

From January through October, Land Rover sold 8,920 automobiles in Brazil, trailing BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which sold 11,520 and 10,510 cars, respectively, according to local auto dealers association Fenabrave.

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JLR invests heavily in new plant for Castle Bromwich site.

VEHICLE manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover is gearing up for a major increase in production at its Castle Bromwich plant after a massive new order for plant infrastructure.

The plant, which manufactures Jaguar cars, is already scaling up production where in addition to the XK, XF and XJ models it also now produces the two-seater F-Type sports car.

The company has also announced it is to increase volumes significantly by producing a new small sports saloon, although this will be made at the nearby Lode Lane plant in Solihull where £1.5bn is being invested in new production facilities.

To facilitate growth at Castle Bromwich, the Indian-owned business has placed an order for five massive new overhead cranes for its press shop.

Materials Handling World said the company had placed an order for five Konecranes for the factory. The cranes are all from Konecranes UK's Smarton SMT range and will operate on average spans of 27 to 29 metres.

Two of the cranes are 60 tonnes - one of which is to be a 60/30 tonne with two trolleys where both hooks are equipped with motorised rotation. In another bay, and operating with similar features to the two 60t cranes, will be two 32 tonne heavy duty cranes. The fifth crane will be a 30 tonne model.

The magazine said the contract also specified the dismantling and relocation of an existing 50 tonne Konecrane. The new cranes will all be delivered from Konecranes UK's manufacturing facility in East Kilbride during March 2014.

The contract is a further indication of JLR’s long-term plans for the future of the Castle Bromwich plant.

The company has already bought up a multiplex cinema on a site next to the factory n order to cater for expansion, while it is also in talks to acquire the nearby Dunlop Motorsport factory to provide further space.

It is thought the company will also unveil a coupe version of the F-Type at the Los Angeles next month, although it has yet to confirm whether a 4x4 concept crossover Jaguar, which was displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show, will be put into production.  

REPORT HERE

Nissan Sunderland Expands to assemble new Infiniti Model

• Groundbreaking ceremony takes place at Sunderland Plant
• Infiniti’s global expansion gathering momentum
• Major £250m investment will create 1,000 jobs

Construction of the first Infiniti production facilities in Europe begins today in Sunderland, UK.

Part of an overall £250m investment in the UK, a groundbreaking ceremony was performed today by Executive Vice President Trevor Mann, and Fintan Knight, Vice President for Infiniti Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Mann said: “Securing the Infiniti Q30 for production at Sunderland was a tremendous achievement by the workforce and reflects the quality levels which they have reached. The existing Sunderland plant is already the largest in UK automotive history and this £250m investment will move the plant even further up the value chain and reconfirm our commitment to their future.”

Knight said whilst addressing visiting dignitaries, UK suppliers and plant staff at the ceremony: “This is a significant step for the Infiniti brand as we establish manufacturing here. The design centre in Paddington, the Technical Centre in Cranfield and the ongoing partnership with the Infiniti Red Bull Racing team in Milton Keynes testify to our strong link with the UK. Our investment here amplifies the brand’s presence in Europe, one of the key markets for Infiniti, but provides clear intent as we gear up for sales of the compact premium Q30 in 2015.  Infiniti is committed to growing its product offering over the coming years as we challenge the traditional premium offerings.”

Trevor Mann and Fintan Knight performed the groundbreaking ceremony with the aid of a specialist digger provided by construction partner Sir Robert McAlpine, indicative of a relationship which dates back to the establishment of the Sunderland Plant in 1984.

The new facilities, for the Q30 body assembly (Body Shop) and final assembly (Trim and Chassis),will cover 25,000m2 of new production space, with construction and facility installation due to be completed in time for the Q30 launch in 2015. The new Body Shop facilities will enable assembly of the Q30’s premium platform, while the Trim and Chassis extension will include a new engine installation facility.

Infiniti will become the first new car brand to be manufactured in the UK on this scale for 23 years.  The expansion is set to create 1,000 jobs at Sunderland and in its UK suppliers, including 280 new jobs at the Sunderland Plant, with the company’s Design Centre in Paddington and Technical Centre in Cranfield also involved in the Q30’s development.

Daimler plans to build a new plant in Brazil

Daimler plans to build a new plant in Brazil as rising taxes on foreign vehicles make it more difficult to sell imported cars in the country, a magazine reported.

Daimler's Mercedes-Benz will begin assembling C-class cars in Brazil by 2015, with a starting capacity of about 20,000 vehicles a year, German weekly Der Spiegel reported, without saying where it got the information.

A Daimler spokesman said the company was considering such a move but had made no decision yet. "We are looking at Brazil, just like various other locations," he said.

Luxury carmakers are flocking to Brazil in an attempt to exploit growing demand. Brazil's government complicated their plans, though, with a drive to protect local jobs by increasing a tax on foreign-made cars last year.

BMW announced plans for a new assembly plant in Brazil last October and Audi will decide next year whether to start building cars in Brazil.

Setting up a new plant in Brazil would not be Daimler's first foray into the world's fourth-biggest auto market.

From 1999 until December 2010, Daimler built the Mercedes A class in its Juiz de Fora plant, making it the first luxury carmaker to produce vehicles in Brazil.

The automaker ceased car production at the plant in 2010 and refitted the site to make commercial trucks.

Der Spiegel said on Sunday that Daimler would decide in the coming months where in Brazil to build the new plant.



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