Just a couple of days after the government guaranteed $485 million to back green technologies, the Indian-owned automotive company, Jaguar Land Rover, expressed its interest on manufacturing electric cars in Britain --- in a bid to step-up the United Kingdom automotive sector following the Brexit vote.
Jaguar Land Rover is looking to design and manufacture electric cars in the UK, and perhaps, create employment throughout Coventry.
The company aims to double its production to 1 million cars by 2020, according to chief executive Ralf Speth, who also indicated that creating electric cars in Britain would be a key aspect. Despite coming up with new factories worldwide, Mr. Speth had earlier said that designing and engineering the company's machines in the UK is an important part of Jaguar Land Rover's tradition, according to reports on Telegraph.
Mr. Speth also opened up about his plan to make Britain a global center for battery R&D (research and development) to power electric automotive. He was speaking at an event held at Warwick University just last Thursday, Nov. 24.
Britain's biggest car maker, which currently has 40,000 UK staff, refrained from spilling the beans about potential job creation and exactly when electric cars would be manufactured here, Fortune reported.
However, bearing in mind that the company has promised to make electric propulsion available in half of its cars, it will probably be a big number.
Meanwhile, just last week, Jaguar Land Rover took the wraps off its first ever electric car, dubbed as the I-Pace, at the LA Motor Show 2016. Interestingly, the company touted the I-Pace as a concept car.
While the production version will be unveiled sometime next year, the car is slated to hit retail showrooms in 2018.
Initially, the I-Pace is slated to be built under contract by the Austria-based automobile manufacturer, Magna Steyr. However, it is likely that new accommodation would be required in Britain in order to cope with subsequent demands.
JLR did not think it was apt to put a timeframe on the move, claiming it was a vision and not a plan.
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