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UK / SLO - Land Rover to build new Discovery in Solihull... and Slovakia

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Coventry car maker announces plans for new Discovery mode

Land Rover has announced it will produce its all-new Discovery model in two different countries - at both its traditional Solihull home and the firm’s newest plant in Slovakia.

Bosses at the Coventry car maker say the twin-track production approach is being adopted due to strong demand for the new vehicle ahead of its official launch next year.

Initially the new seven-seat SUV will be built at the Lode Lane plant in Solihull, with production in Slovakia coming on stream in 2018 when its new factory in Nitra opens.

Jaguar Land Rover say the multi-plant approach mirrors a strategy it has already taken in China and Brazil.

The car maker has also confirmed its new Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicle will be manufactured under contract by specialists Magna Steyr in Austria.

The latest announcement comes shortly after Jaguar Land Rover revealed it wants to build the next generation of electric cars and their batteries in Coventry - generating thousands of jobs and creating the UK’s first ‘smart city’.

Wolfgang Stadler, Jaguar Land Rover global manufacturing director, said: “The new Discovery is already a hit with customers, confirming our decision to launch this car as the lead vehicle in Slovakia, alongside manufacture in Solihull.

“This multi-plant approach mirrors the strategy taken for Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport at our plants in Halewood, China and Brazil, ensuring our manufacturing output is able to keep up with strong consumer demand.”

The Slovakian facility, which will open in 2018, will add to production from Solihull, which is operating at full capacity across three shifts.

The Lode Lane factory is currently producing vehicles around the clock to meet demand for the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and the recently launched Jaguar F-Pace.

Together these models have helped Jaguar Land Rover achieve a 23 per cent year-on-year sales increase to October.

Jaguar Land Rover has a joint venture agreement with Chery Automobile Company in China, a plant in Brazil, an assembly facility in India and a contract manufacturing partnership with Magna Steyr in Austria.

The company says it is committed to continuing vehicle production in the UK but with all three vehicle manufacturing plants in the UK close to their operating capacity, the creation of overseas manufacturing facilities is essential in order to grow.

Last week Jaguar Land Rover’s chief executive Ralf Speth revealed the firm has ambitions to build more than a million cars a year.

Source: coventrytelegraph.net

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