Jaguar Land Rover delivers best ever full year global sales performance retailing 425,006 vehicles in 2013, up 19%

• New sales records set in thirty eight international markets for both brands
• Jaguar delivers strongest full year performance since 2005 retailing 76,668 vehicles, up 42%
• Land Rover sets another full year record retailing 348,338 vehicles, up 15%
• Jaguar is the fastest growing brand in Germany, India and the USA
• Global sales success driven by range of new and award winning product introductions
• Jaguar and Land Rover models receive more than 195 international awards with the Jaguar F-TYPE the most decorated vehicle

Jaguar Land Rover, the UK's leading manufacturer of premium luxury vehicles has delivered its strongest ever full year global sales performance thanks to the introduction of a series of multi award winning new vehicles in 2013. Full year retail sales stood at 425,006, up 19%, with strong growth in all major regions and new records set in 38 markets, including Russia, Brazil, Korea and Canada. Regional performance for the full year was as follows: Asia Pacific and the China region up 30%, North America up 21%, the UK up 14%, Europe up 6%, and other overseas markets up 23%.

Commenting on the company’s sales performance, Dr. Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover CEO said: “2013 has proven to be a very positive year for Jaguar Land Rover thanks to continuing strong demand for vehicles across the range. Our unrelenting focus on design, technology, innovation and quality has seen Jaguar Land Rover reach global consumers in more markets than ever before thanks to its most desirable product line-up, enriched further in 2013 by the Jaguar F-TYPE and all-new Range Rover Sport”.

2013 Awards 

Jaguar Land Rover‘s enhanced stable of products received 195 awards in 2013. Jaguar received 80 awards with its most decorated model, the F-TYPE earning the World Car Design of the Year, Germany’s most prestigious award, The Golden Steering Wheel award for the Cabriolet & Coupe Category and BBC Topgear magazine Convertible of the year. Notably Jaguar also received coveted recognition from J.D. Power, being named the UK’s number one automotive brand in the Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Survey (VOSS) and the highest ranking manufacturer among luxury brands in the US J.D. Power Sales Satisfaction Index Study (SSI).

Land Rover’s full range of vehicles received 115 honours in 2013 with Range Rover topping the Land Rover awards table with 55 accolades including, Luxury Car of the Year by What Car? in the UK, Women’s Luxury Car of the Year by the Women’s World Car of the Year jury and Best Luxury SUV from Edmunds.com and Forbes. Range Rover also achieved the Highest APEAL Score of any model in the J.D. Power 2013 APEAL survey – the first time a model outside the large premium car segment has ranked highest among all models in the industry. The Range Rover Sport, launched in 2013 also received a host of awards including, SUV of the Year by Topgear magazine, Guangzhou Daily in China, Bloomberg.com and EVO magazine in the Middle East.

Jaguar 2013 Sales Performance

Jaguar recorded a 42% year on year increase in sales, selling 76,668 vehicles in 2013 - its strongest full year sales performance since 2005 with new records set in 17 markets including, Brazil, India, Russia and China. The iconic British motoring marque also emerged as the fastest growing premium brand in the USA, Germany and India in 2013. This strong global performance was primarily driven by F-TYPE introduction and a new annual record for XF retailing 47,391 saloon and Sportbrake derivatives. XJ also delivered its best full year performance for ten years with 19,677 vehicle sales with particular strong demand from North America and China thanks to the introduction of the All-Wheel Driveline and an enhanced engine line up which includes the 3.0 V6 and 2.0 4-cylinder petrol engines.

Jaguar delivered year on year increases in every major region with North America now the brand’s top selling region. Full year regional performances were as follows: the China Region up significantly, North America up 44%, Asia Pacific up 33%, Europe up 17%, the UK up 15% and other overseas markets up 31%.

Land Rover 2013 Sales Performance

Land Rover set a new full year sales record retailing 348,338 vehicles in 2013, up 15% on the prior year following record sales of the Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque and an incredible performance from all- new Range Rover Sport which was close to equaling its prior record set in 2007, despite having only been on sale for part of the year. The Freelander 2 also delivered a very strong full year performance, up 20% on the prior year.

Sales were up for Land Rover in every major region with annual sales records set in 42 markets, including the UK, USA, Brazil and India.  Full year regional performances were as follows: Asia Pacific up 29%, the China Region up 17%, North America up 15%, the UK up 13%, Europe up 4%, and other overseas markets up 22%.

Commenting on the sales success, Andy Goss, Jaguar Land Rover Group Sales Operations Director said: “2013 has been a great year in which we have seen some incredibly exciting new models launched to customers across the world. The Range Rover Sport, F-TYPE, new engines and drivetrains, and a number of 14 Model Year enhancements to our existing line up have seen Jaguar Land Rover continue to build strong sales momentum in every global region.

It is not just our customers who are delighting in our strongest ever vehicle line up, international journalists bestowed almost 200 awards on our vehicles in 2013 with the F-TYPE, our star performer receiving more than 59 accolades. This recognition is a demonstration that Jaguar Land Rover’s focus is on delivering cars that surpass customer expectations.”

F-Type and Range Rover win big at AUTOBYTEL awards.

• Jaguar F-TYPE wins 2014 'Car Of The Year' and 'Convertible of the Year'
• 2014 Range Rover wins 2014 'Truck Of The Year' and 'Luxury SUV of the Year'

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC announced today that the all-new Jaguar F-TYPE and 2014 Land Rover Range Rover have been named car and truck of the year by Autobytel, highlighting the momentum both brands have achieved coming into 2014.

"Jaguar F-TYPE and Land Rover Range Rover winning both Car and Truck of the Year awards from Autobytel in the same year is a tremendous honor.  This accomplishment is a testament of our commitment to deliver unique, dynamic luxury cars and SUVs that stand out in the marketplace for design and capability," said Joe Eberhardt, President, Jaguar Land Rover, North America. "Not only are the F-TYPE and Range Rover very popular vehicles, but they represent the essence of what the Jaguar and Land Rover brands stand for. We very much appreciate the acknowledgement from the automotive experts at Autobytel."

In the United States, year-to-date through November, 2013, Jaguar sales are up 41 percent helped by the addition to the lineup of the all new F-TYPE convertible.  In the same period, Land Rover sales are up 15 percent with the all new generation Land Rover Range Rover up 60 percent.

Autobytel Inc. is dedicated to helping consumers research and find the information they need to purchase new and used cars and connect to dealers online. The 2013 Car and Truck of the Year Awards were chosen by the editorial group of Autobytel, led by Editor in Chief, Michelle Naranjo. Autobytel editors have driven hundreds of vehicles and have chosen this year's winners based on their game changing potential, advances in design and overall efficiency.

"Our selection process wasn't easy," said Michelle Naranjo, Editor in Chief, Autobytel. "The offerings within each of the vehicle segments we analyzed are extremely competitive, with some of the highest quality products we've seen in recent years. The Jaguar F-TYPE is quite simply superb, with a gorgeous design and impressive performance in virtually every respect.  It's the perfect blend of style and luxury in a thrill-a-minute ride."

Naranjo continues, "Don't let the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover fool you, it's gorgeous on the outside and lavishly appointed on the inside, yet positively capable off road.  With opulent features, timeless styling, and plenty of utility to handle the toughest terrains, it sits at the top of the Luxury SUV food chain."  

The new Jaguar F-TYPE represents a return to the company's heart: a two-seat, convertible sports car focused on performance, agility and driver involvement. This Jaguar is a continuation of a sporting bloodline that stretches back more than 75 years and encompasses some of the most beautiful, thrilling and desirable sports cars ever built. The 2014 F-TYPE combines low vehicle weight, high power and superb aerodynamics to achieve a pure sports car experience, yet with Jaguar elegance and luxury. The F-TYPE is powered respectively by the new Jaguar supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine in 340hp and 380hp outputs and a 495hp 5.0-liter supercharged V8. The F-TYPE Coupe goes on sale in spring, 2014.

The Fourth Generation Range Rover is the world's first SUV with a lightweight all-aluminum body, with a weight savings of 700lbs.  The Range Rover takes the capabilities of the brand's flagship to a new level, with even greater luxury and refinement, enhanced performance and handling on all terrains and significant advances in sustainability. The Range Rover was launched in October of 2012 to acclaim, receiving over 20 awards and accolades globally to date.

AUSTRALIA - Jaguar F-Type needs to respond to Porsche price cuts.

Jaguar F-Type needs to respond to Porsche price cuts.

Price cuts and/or feature upgrades are a chance for the Jaguar F-Type despite strong early demand for the roadster. Jaguar Land Rover Asia-Pacific boss David Blackhall says Porsche's price cuts in response to the launch of the F-Type earlier this year prompted JLR to re-evaluate.

The results seems to say (Porsche) took a look at the car and the segment and thought ‘We're going to protect our turf'." Blackhall says. 'We were comfortable with where the F-Type's price and position ended up but when the goalposts moved, we've had to respond to that."

The F-Type Jaguar is priced between the Porsche Boxster and 911 cabrio, ranging from $138,645 for the base supercharged V6 to $201,945 for the V8 S. The Boxster range starts at $101,500 while the 911 drop-top kicks off at $228,900.

Former Porsche Australia head Michael Winkler will take over local JLR operations from November 11. His appointment comes at a time when demand for Land Rovers and Range Rovers is outstripping supply. 'We would sell in Australia almost anything we can get across the entire Land Rover range except Defender," Blackhall says.

The first shipment of 40 F-Types for Australia was pre-sold and Blackhall says a second batch of 80 also will be a sellout. 'The F-Type was never going to be a volume-seller but it is a halo car for the brand and we'll defend its position in the segment as required," Blackhall says.

Quizzed as to whether basic options - such as dual-zone aircon, manual activation of the active sports exhaust and reversing camera - would be standard to bolster the value-for-money equation, Blackhall says: 'That's all on the table as part of this review. We won't rule

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Jaguar SUV will also spawn a new Range Rover

Land Rover may still introduce a new model for its Range Rover lineup based on parent Jaguar Land Rover’s new aluminum platform but has not said yet if it will also build the C-X17 crossover concept.

According to a source familiar with the company’s plans, the new Range Rover would fill a gap between the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport and be based on the its new modular aluminum platform announced in September during the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show.

Jaguar Land Rover is investing 1.5 billion pounds (1.79 billion euros) to develop the new platform and said it would form the basis of a new Jaguar sedan due in 2015 that will challenge the BMW 3-series and 5-series. Although it also showed the Jaguar C-X17 crossover concept that is based on the platform, they declined to say whether it would be built.

The source described the styling of the new Range Rover as “car-like on steroids.” The lightweight platform and JLR’s new four-cylinder Hotfire engines will add to the appeal, according to analyst Max Warburton at Bernstein Research.

“The new Range Rover will be lighter and more efficient than any Land Rover-branded product that has gone before,” he said. He predicted prices would match those of the Discovery large SUV, which starts at 38,850 pounds (45,595 euros) in the UK.

Warburton also predicts that the new Range Rover will be built alongside a production version of the Jaguar crossover concept on the same platform. The Jaguar crossover concept shown at Frankfurt measured 4700mm (185 inches) long, pitching it against the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 in terms of size.

BREAKING NEWS - Land Rover announces that Defender production to stop in 2015

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has said it will stop production of its Defender model in 2015 because it will not meet new European laws on fuel emissions.

The last of the 4x4 models will roll off the production line at its plant in Solihull in the West Midlands in December 2015, it confirmed.

The model had evolved over 67 years of production but it could not be adapted to meet new emissions rules, JLR said.

It said no jobs would be lost and it was working on a replacement model.

The first model in the style of the Defender was introduced in 1948 and was modelled on a World War II Jeep.

It was not given the Defender name until the early 1990s, shortly after the launch of the Land Rover Discovery.

More than two million have been sold since the car first appeared, JLR said.

The firm said the decision to cease production was "mainly legislation based."

'Workhorses with style'

Plans by the European Council and Parliament to bring in stricter measures for new car emissions by 2020 meant there were "certain conditions the Defender just won't meet," the company said.

It said a replacement model for the Defender was being developed to be launched in 2016.

The Defender is very much a part of Land Rover's heritage but it does need to change.

Making the vehicle is pretty labour intensive and it is also not as mainstream as other Land Rover models.

The new Range Rover Sport, for instance, while still being an off-road vehicle is designed for a completely different and much more lucrative market.


The Defender has for a long time been the workhorse of the farmer, but these days Land Rover and Range Rover models are anything but.

Yes farmers still buy them, but desirability has propelled the brands into the premium market, somewhere the current Defender model just does not seem to fit anymore.

JLR's head of products, John Edwards, said the new model would be "instantly recognised" by people who drive the current vehicle but it "won't necessarily be cheap".

Editor of Auto Express magazine, Steve Fowler, said the Defender had taken on "iconic status" after being driven by members of the Royal Family and being featured in the latest James Bond film, Skyfall.

He said: "It's a very important market for Land Rover, one of its three pillars with the Range Rover and the Discovery.

"As we experienced with another iconic car, the Mini, it had a bit of a sabbatical before coming back and that's what I fully expect to happen with the Defender."

Frank King, from the Land Rover owners' club in Cannock, Staffordshire, said it was "disappointing news."

He said: "The silhouette still looks the same as it did 67 years ago, although its been upgraded and had new engines and whatever. It's a real shame to see it go."

Peter PlisnerBBC Midlands transport correspondent


REPORT HERE

Jaguar Land Rover announces significant sales improvements for the UK in September.

Jaguar Land Rover UK is celebrating record September sales with retail figures up 13 per cent year-to-date over the same period last year.

Land Rover had its best ever September month of sales with 10,769 vehicles registered; up 11 per cent on the same month last year and 13 per cent up year-to-date. The bookends of the brand drove the impressive figures with a record September for the Land Rover Defender (up 30 per cent compared to the same period last year) and continued strong sales of Land Rover's flagship vehicle, the all new Range Rover (up 24 per cent compared to the same period last year).

The Range Rover Evoque continues to be successful (up 35 per cent September 2013 versus September 2012) and the new Range Rover Sport has made a strong start with sales of 1,309 vehicles during what is only the second month of customer deliveries. Monthly retail figures for Land Rover's newest model are set to increase in line with production ramp-up and will see the UK fulfil its healthy order bank over the coming months.

The Land Rover Discovery's popularity remains with outstanding residual values and class-leading versatility keeping sales stable. The Land Rover Freelander continues to have an excellent 2013 with retails up 13 per cent in September and 35 per cent year-to-date.

Jaguar is celebrating a 19 per cent increase in car sales year-to-date, with a year on year increase across its model range of seven per cent. The successful launch of the stunning new F-TYPE convertible sports car, of which more than 1,000 are now with UK customers, is one highlight in a year which has seen a surge in sales of the popular Jaguar XF executive car and XJ luxury saloon. In 2013 sales of the XF are up 12 per cent and XJ 6 per cent; a result of the introduction of new, efficient and high performance derivatives of each model.

Jeremy Hicks, Jaguar Land Rover UK Managing Director, said “The September sales figures tangibly demonstrate that both Jaguar and Land Rover continue to focus on relevant and highly-desirable product line-ups.

“With the recent introduction of the all-new Range Rover Sport and F-TYPE coupled with the continued success of our well established models, we have seen more new customers than ever purchasing Jaguar Land Rover award-winning products. Indeed, our new 2014 model year offerings across both brands will be hitting showrooms shortly and will see us build on the successes of the 2013 range."

Jaguar land Rover seek partner to assist in Hybrid tech to lower Corporate CO2 figures

Jaguar Land Rover is talking with other automakers about a partnership on hybrid vehicles as the UK luxury car manufacturer battles to meet CO2 emissions targets in Europe.

"Some discussions have taken place with other manufacturers," Wolfgang Epple, JLR's research and technology head, told Automotive News Europe. He declined to identify which companies JLR has spoken with.

Epple has previous experience in collaborating with other automakers on hybrids. As vice president of hybrid technology at BMW he worked with General Motors and DaimlerChrysler on the development of a transmission in the United States to channel both gasoline and electric power.

Epple said the cost-saving cooperation, which started in 2005, was successful. "Subsequently each of the manufacturers has built its own car and we have all used the same components," he said.

JLR will start selling diesel-hybrid versions of the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport early next year. According to the company, these models will reduce CO2 by 26 percent compared with the standard V-6 diesels on which they are based. The two SUVs will not be sold in the United States.

Jaguar Land Rover has to make the biggest improvements of any automaker to reach the European Union's CO2 target for 2015, according to a report by analyst Bernstein Research.

"Arguably the single biggest challenge for JLR is hitting future fuel economy/CO2 emissions," report author Max Warburton wrote. "It will need to fit hybrid to a greater proportion of its vehicles than almost any other manufacturer in order to hit CO2 targets."

According to the Bernstein report, JLR must cut average CO2 emissions to 164 grams per kilometer by 2015 to meet European regulations. According to JLR, the company's average CO2 figure in 2011 was 206g/km, down from 223g/km in 2010.

The 164g/km target, which is higher than the overall industry goal of 130g/km, reflects the higher average weight of Land Rover and Jaguar vehicles, the company said.

Earlier this month JLR said it would produce three electric concepts based on the Range Rover Evoque compact SUV in a development study partly funded by the UK government's Technology Strategy Board. Partners in the project to develop a mild hybrid, a plug-in hybrid and a full-electric vehicle will include British drivetrain specialist GKN, the engineering arm of the Williams F1 team and British battery vehicle maker Zytek.

JLR is also investing in a new advanced research center in the UK. Hybrids will be a key area of focus when the center opens in 2016.

REPORT HERE

Jaguar Land Rover surge sales in competitive US market.

• Jaguar Land Rover North America increases 1 percent in September
• Jaguar continues U.S. growth streak with 31 percent growth in  September on new XF and XJ all wheel drive models and F-TYPE sales
• Land Rover Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque see strong increases in September, up 23 percent and 26 percent respectively
• Land Rover U.S. sales decrease 7 percent for month due to tight supply of Range Rover Sport during launch; Land Rover brand up 12 percent year-to-date

Jaguar Land Rover North America today reported September 2013 U.S. sales: Jaguar sales were 1,313 units, 31 percent up from 1,004 units in September 2012; Land Rover sales were 3,387 units, down 7 percent from 3,636 units in September 2012. Jaguar Land Rover North America September U.S. sales for both brands hit 4,700 units, a 1 percent increase from 4,640 units in September 2012.

Year to date through September, Jaguar Land Rover North America is up 16 percent, with Jaguar up 30 percent and Land Rover up 12 percent.

"Jaguar brand, led by our updated lineup of sedans and sports cars, continues to be one of the hottest brands in the business, with a thirty percent rise in September," said Andy Goss, President, Jaguar Land Rover North America. "On the Land Rover side, the Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque continued their consistent growth pace this year, though overall sales were down for the month as we ramp up supply of the new Range Rover Sport to meet demand."

U.S. BRAND HIGHLIGHTS

Land Rover
Range Rover Evoque was the growth leader for Land Rover in September, with an increase of 26 percent to 706 units from 559 units in September, 2012.  Year to date, the Range Rover Evoque is up 31 percent.

Range Rover sales were 693 units, up 23 percent from 564 in September, 2012. Year to date, the Range Rover model is up 39 percent from 2012. In the 2013 J.D. Power 2013 U.S. APEAL Study, the Range Rover was the industry's highest scoring model.

Land Rover's 2014 model year line-up features five models: The 240-hp 2.0 liter powered LR2 and Range Rover Evoque; the LR4 powered by the supercharged 340-hp V6; the Range Rover Sport and Range Rover, both available with the 340-hp V6 and 510-hp supercharged 5.0 liter V8 powertrains.

Jaguar
For the month of September, the Jaguar XF was the Jaguar volume and growth leader with 632 units sold, up 47 percent from 429 sales in September 2012. Year to date, the XF is up 34 percent.

The Jaguar XJ sales were 442 units, up 5 percent from 422 in September, 2012. All-wheel drive models now make up approximately half of all XJ sales.

Year to date, Jaguar sales are 12,447, up 30 percent from 9,550 sales, with both XJ and XF sales increasing on the appeal of new powertrains and All Wheel Drive.

For MY14 the transformed Jaguar U.S. lineup includes:

• Instinctive All Wheel Drive™ - Available on both the XF and XJ
• Supercharged 340hp V6 engines in the XF and XJ
• Turbocharged 240hp four cylinder engine available in the XF
• Eight Speed ZF® Automatic Transmissions on all XF and XJ models
• Auto Engine Stop/Start on select XF and XJ models

The 2014 Jaguar line-up features four models: The Jaguar XJ luxury sedan, powered by a 340-hp supercharged V6 in rear wheel or all wheel drive configuration, a 470-hp supercharged V8 or a 550-hp supercharged V8 in the XJR model. The Jaguar XF sports sedan powered by a 240-hp turbocharged four cylinder, a 340-hp supercharged V6 in rear wheel or all wheel drive configurations, a 470-hp supercharged V8, a 510-hp Supercharged V8 in the XFR, and a 550-hp Supercharged V8 in the XFR-S. The XK coupe and convertible grand touring cars are powered by either a 385-hp V8 or a 510-hp supercharged V8 in the XKR. Jaguar also offers its highest performance models ever, the 2014 Jaguar XKR-S coupe and convertible with a 550-hp supercharged V8.  The 2014 MY Jaguar F-TYPE convertible comes in three variants, 340-hp F-TYPE, 380-hp F-TYPE S and 495-hp F-TYPE V8 S.

JLR invests £100M in new research centre

• Jaguar Land Rover confirms its commitment to research and development in the UK, with a multi-million pound investment in a new technology, innovation and education centre at the University of Warwick
• National Automotive Innovation Campus (NAIC) construction begins September 2014

The facility will open in 2016 and Jaguar Land Rover will double the size of its advanced research team
Jaguar Land Rover has unveiled details of its future plans for advanced research and development in the UK which will now be focused on a new cutting-edge technology, innovation and education centre in Warwick.

The National Automotive Innovation Campus (NAIC) is designed to create a large-scale collaborative research environment. It will bring academics from the UK’s leading universities together with researchers and engineers from Jaguar Land Rover and our supply chain, in a single, multi-purpose, state-of-the-art research facility.

Jaguar Land Rover is the lead partner in the project investing £50m, along with Tata Motors European Technical Centre (TMETC), WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group ) and the UK Government’s Higher Education Funding Council England (HEFCE).

Construction of the nearly £100m NAIC is scheduled to begin in September 2014 at the University of Warwick.  Around 1000 academics, researchers, technologists and engineers will work in the building, which will feature engineering workshops and laboratories, advanced powertrain facilities and the latest advanced design, visualisation and rapid prototyping technologies.

The development of the new facility, which will complement Jaguar Land Rover’s product creation centres in Gaydon and Whitley, will be co-ordinated by Dr Wolfgang Epple, Jaguar Land Rover’s  Director of Research and Technology. In this new board-level role, Dr Epple is leading Jaguar Land Rover's innovation and advanced research initiatives and has been appointed a Honorary Fellow at WMG.

Dr. Wolfgang Epple, Director of Research and Technology, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Investing in collaboration, innovation, research and education is vital if we want to be on a par with our international competitors.  Our future sales success, the success of our global business – and the UK economy – lies in the engineering and innovation that will take place in NAIC.

“Creating a new national focus for automotive research and consolidating Jaguar Land Rover’s growing research and advanced engineering operations in one centre offers us huge potential. With a critical mass of research capability we will put the UK at the very centre of the global automotive industry – with the NAIC at its hub.”

The development of the NAIC project is the next stage in Jaguar Land Rover’s long-term research strategy and builds on the success Jaguar Land Rover has enjoyed as part of its long-standing relationship with WMG at the University of Warwick. Nearly 200 Jaguar Land Rover researchers and engineers are currently based at WMG, collaborating with university experts on a number of projects.

Jaguar Land Rover expects that it will more than double the size of its advanced research team to 500 people by the time the NAIC opens in 2016.

Antony Harper, Jaguar Land Rover’s Head of Research, said: “We will announce the details of the specific research projects on which our NAIC research team will collaborate in due course, but these will be long-term, multi-disciplinary challenges – such as electrification, smart & connected cars and Human Machine Interface – which will help us create some key new technologies that will deliver a low-carbon future.

“These collaborative research programmes will harness the best of UK engineering innovation, and with the extra capability the NAIC gives us, you can expect the number and range of new, fresh innovative ideas that we patent, and then take to production in the future, will increase significantly.”

As well as the skills and knowledge that will be developed within these research projects, NAIC will have a key role in developing the skills of school children and engineering students, who will be able to use NAIC’s laboratories and a dedicated engineering education facility.

Dr. Wolfgang Epple added:  “Economic growth can only be sustained if we and our suppliers can find the right quality and quantity of skilled people.  We need to ensure that we are inspiring people to consider engineering and encourage a passion for science, technology and maths from a young age.

“The NAIC will become a centre of training and skills to help ensure we have enough young people wanting to develop a career in engineering and manufacturing. NAIC will also play a key role in nurturing the next generation of engineers and technologists.”