Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum named Industry Innovator of the Year

• Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum named Industry Innovator of the Year at Motorcity Automotive Industry Night (MAIN) Event
• Jaguar products praised for distinct design language, use of advanced technology and outstanding vehicle dynamics

Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum has this week been named ‘Industry Innovator of the Year’ at the 2014 Motorcity Automotive Industry Night (MAIN) Event Awards.  Jaguar was recognised by the MAIN Event Executive Committee as the ultimate definition of automotive luxury and praised for its distinct design language, use of advanced technology and outstanding vehicle dynamics.  The ceremony took place at Orchestra Hall, Detroit, in front of an audience of over 700 automotive executives, designers and international media.

Presenting the trophy to Ian, Keith Nagara, Executive Committee Chairman said: “Jaguars are beautiful vehicles that all generations aspire to own.  They epitomise the ultimate in automotive luxury, desirability and craftsmanship.  Ian Callum has led the design revolution at Jaguar that has helped transform the brand, most recently demonstrated by the launch of the stunning F-TYPE Coupé.  This is a brand that is going from strength to strength.”

Ian Callum said: “It is an honour to receive this award.  It is with the benefit of having such a great team around me that we have been able to deliver the cars and designs that define Jaguar today.”

Ian Callum has been at the forefront of the transformation of Jaguar's design aesthetic since joining the brand in 1999. Born in Dumfries, Scotland, he studied Industrial Design at the Glasgow School of Art.  Upon graduating, Callum opted to specialise in vehicle design, enrolling at the Royal College of Art (RCA) on the Automobile Design course, and has since received five honorary doctorates from universities around the world. Callum is responsible for Jaguar design language created over the past decade, which includes the current Jaguar XK, XF, XJ and the recently launched F-TYPE sports car.

Staged in Detroit on the eve of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS),the annual celebration of automotive excellence allocates four awards across design and industry.  Each year two industry executives whose achievements have made a substantial global impact, leading their institutions to set new standards of industry innovation, are recognised at the awards. Celebrating not only established excellence, the next generation of automotive talent is selected by the MAIN Executive Committee from current design students at Lawrence Technological University.

USA- - Jaguar announces three renowned actors to appear in its first super bowl commercial launching “British Villains” campaign for new F-Type coupe

• Renowned British actors Sir Ben Kingsley, Tom Hiddleston and Mark Strong to star in Jaguar’s cinematic “Rendezvous” spot, filmed by Oscar-winning British director Tom Hooper
• The 60-second ad will debut during Super Bowl XLVIII, February 2 on Fox
• Spot launches “British Villains” campaign, running through July, and raises the bar of automotive advertising to cinematic caliber for the introduction of the F-TYPE Coupe, Jaguar’s all-new, high-performance sports car
• Robust, multi-channel campaign includes broadcast, digital, print, OOH and innovative Super Bowl week activations
• Jaguar grows U.S. sales by 41 percent in 2013 on power of F-TYPE convertible and new all-wheel drive XF and XJ models

Today, Jaguar North America announced the three renowned actors to appear in “Rendezvous,” its 60-second television advertisement to debut during the second half of Super Bowl XLVIII, and revealed details of its largest-ever brand and product marketing campaign, called “British Villains,” which introduces the Jaguar F-TYPE Coupe (on sale spring, 2014). “Rendezvous” stars Sir Ben Kingsley, Tom Hiddleston and Mark Strong, and was filmed by Oscar-winning British director, Tom Hooper, in London. It is Jaguar’s first Super Bowl TV advertisement.

“With ‘British Villains,’ Jaguar will present itself on the Super Bowl stage as a challenger to the usual luxury car suspects, with a unique cinematic expression of our modern British style,” said Jeff Curry, Brand Vice President, Jaguar North America. “With the three renowned actors, Sir Ben, Tom and Mark, who have all played memorable film rogues, we have brought together the best of British film to star in a major motion picture caliber campaign that addresses the simple cultural observation that Brits often play the best villains in film. This talent, coupled with the direction of Academy Award-winner director Tom Hooper, enables us to launch our campaign for the F-TYPE Coupe in a manner that captures the new spirit of the entire brand inspired by our latest sports car.”

“Jaguar is truly a beloved British brand and it’s exciting to help them make some noise as they debut in a beloved American event, the Super Bowl,” said Sir Ben Kingsley. “As for being known for playing the roles of renowned villains, I’ll have to ponder that one – I think I’m flattered?!”

The campaign creative, developed with a cinematic vision, centers around the new “Rendezvous” television commercial. In addition to the 60-second spot to air in the Super Bowl, a 30-second preview of “Rendezvous” will debut online on January 28 and run on high-profile, digital channels throughout February. Jaguar also previewed its Super Bowl spot with “The Setup,” staring Sir Ben Kingsley, during the CBS and FOX NFL Divisional Playoff games, January 11 and 12. At the end of the commercial, viewers were invited to view “The Setup” on the campaign’s dedicated landing page, www.BritishVillains.com, and use the unique hashtag, #GoodToBeBad to engage with the brand throughout the campaign. The original score for “Rendezvous” was composed and conducted by Alexandre Desplat, who worked with Tom Hooper on The King’s Speech and recorded by The London Symphony Orchestra at the iconic Abbey Road studios.

The “British Villains” campaign and its many supporting assets were produced specifically for the launch of the F-TYPE Coupe around the broadcast of the 2014 Super Bowl and builds on the momentum of Jaguar following the successful launch of the F-TYPE convertible and a 41 percent sales increase in 2013.

“2014 will continue a very significant period in the growth of the Jaguar brand, marked by quickly rising sales, and new beautifully designed products coming to market, like the F-TYPE Coupe this year, and in the future, an all-new compact sports sedan,” added Curry. “This is perhaps the brand’s most memorable marketing campaign and deserves to appear in one of the most-watched sporting events, the Super Bowl.”

“British Villains” captures the premise that Brits have long made the best villains in landmark films, combining intelligence with charm, restlessness with calm, and always confident. In the world of pop culture, villains disrupt the status quo and challenge the establishment, while living one step ahead of, and better than, the pack. The campaign asks the question, ‘Have you ever noticed how in Hollywood movies, all the villains are played by Brits?’ It was filmed by Hooper in London in a creative partnership with his Smuggler Films production house.

“This is one of those jobs that can really be a lot of fun, so I was quite happy to oblige when Jaguar asked me to be a part of their first Super Bowl commercial,” said Hooper. “To work with the caliber of great actors we cast in this project is a truly special experience on its own and reflects the cinematic approach that we took in the production with Jaguar.”

SPARK44, the lead strategic communications partner for Jaguar, was responsible for the creative positioning and strategy behind the campaign, while Mindshare managed the communications planning and buying. In addition to broadcast, the multi-channel campaign will feature unique outdoor creative throughout New York City, print, digital and consumer activations hosted with a wide array of media partners, and special events in the week leading up to the Super Bowl.

During the game, Jaguar aims to be the most real-time engaged advertiser during the Super Bowl through a unique physical space called “The Loop,” developed by Mindshare, where multiple screens will monitor real-time consumer data and translate it into actionable insights, and ultimately, rapid marketing decisions, or “Adaptive Marketing.”

“The Loop” is the first real-time marketing tool to impact paid media – whereby media dollars can be quickly shifted and redeployed to leverage opportunities uncovered by the data. Rapid, relevant and responsive, “The Loop” puts data at the center and creates a channel-agnostic, holistic approach to real-time marketing in an unprecedented manner.

Other marketing assets from Jaguar’s “British Villains” campaign include:

• New York City out-of-home placements, including an innovative F-TYPE wrap of 10 subway cars on the F-Train line (CBSOutdoor) and 20 street level wild postings in New York City, January 13 through February 9
• Cable TV run of the 30-second “Rendezvous” spot on networks such as BBC America, IFC and ESPN, February 3 through February 23
• Print ads break in early February (March/April books) in top national lifestyle and auto enthusiast publications such as Motor Trend, Car and Driver and Sports Illustrated
• Digital Advertising (banner ads) breaks on January 20
• A BritishVillains.com landing page will launch on JaguarUSA.com, hosting “in-character” five-second sound bites from Sir Ben, Tom and Mark, that speak to capabilities of Jaguar’s high-performance R models and an in-depth behind-the-scenes making of “Rendezvous;” it also will allow users to view additional content, share content on social media sites and gather information about the F-TYPE Coupe and the R line of performance cars
• Media buys with BBC America.com for their “Anglophenia” blog, and with NFL.com for “The 6 Borough Experience
• Integrated partnerships with IFC, Gawker, Sports Illustrated and Pandora that includes:
• IFC to present “Villains on Villains” Double Feature Film Night on February 10, featuring Silence of the Lambs and A Clockwork Orange, iconic films starring British villains
• Gawker Media is producing and publishing a themed kinja page, http://goodtobebad.kinja.com/, and is hosting a co-sponsored event in the week leading up to the Super Bowl
• Sports Illustrated will host British Villains advertising on SI.com, while Jaguar will sponsor an original video series about infamous sports villains
• Jaguar will team up with Pandora Radio to invite subscribers to contribute to the GoodToBeBad Mixtape – a crowdsourced compilation of the best of British music for release on January 20.

The new all-aluminum F-TYPE Coupe, including the first F-TYPE R model, expands the Jaguar lineup beginning in spring 2014 and starting at $65,0001. Available in three versions, the F-TYPE R Coupe is powered by a 550hp 5-liter supercharged V8 engine and will reach 60 mph in 4.0 seconds, and a top speed of 186 mph (electronically limited)2. The F-TYPE S Coupe and F-TYPE Coupe are powered by 3-liter supercharged V6 engines in 380hp and 340hp forms respectively, going 0-60 mph in 4.8/5.1 seconds and top speeds of 171/161 mph2.

Biographies of Jaguar’s “British Villains” campaign stars:

Sir Ben Kingsley is recognized as one of the finest British actors and first earned international fame for his performance in the 1982 movie, Gandhi. His performance as "Mahatma Gandhi" earned him international fame. He has won multiple awards, including an Oscar for Best Actor, a Golden Globe, BAFTA and London Film Critics' Circle Awards. Kingsley has appeared in countless other acclaimed films, including Schindler's List, The Tale of Sweeney Todd and Anne Frank: The Whole Story, for which he won a Screen Actors' Guild Award. Throughout his career, Kingsley has played many “villainous” roles, including those in the films Sexy Beast and Iron Man 3. He was awarded Knight Bachelor in the Queen's New Year's Honors List in 2002. In 2010, Kingsley was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Tom Hiddleston is a young British actor and is best known for playing the character of Loki in the Marvel Studios films Thor, The Avengers and Thor: The Dark World. Other notable roles have included Steven Spielberg's World War I film War Horse, Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive, the British drama The Deep Blue Sea, Woody Allen's romantic comedy Midnight in Paris, the 2012 BBC series Henry IV and Henry V. He is currently playing Coriolanus at the Donmar Warehouse at Covent Garden theatre in London's West End. Tom won the MTV Movie Award for ‘Best Fight’ and ‘Best Villain’ in 2013 for his role in The Avengers.

Mark Strong is a British actor who is best known for his roles in Sherlock Holmes, Body of Lies, The Young Victoria, Syriana, Kick-Ass, Green Lantern, Zero Dark Thirty, Robin Hood, and John Carter. He often portrays villains or antagonists. Strong is also a familiar face on British television, where he has had starring roles in two BBC drama series, including Our Friends in the North and The Long Firm, for which he earned a BAFTA nomination.

Tom Hooper is an Academy Award-winning British film and television director best known for his work in The King's Speech (2010), Les Miserables (2012) and The Damned United (2009) and TV mini-series John Adams.

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.”

JLR launches recruitment drive for new Power plant facility in Wolverhampton.

• Jaguar Land Rover launches campaign to recruit world-class manufacturing team at its new Engine Manufacturing Centre
• Phased campaign to recruit circa 600 people in the next four years
• Working in close partnership with local councils, colleges and Jobcentre Plus, a bespoke skills development programme for the unemployed has been created

Jaguar Land Rover has launched the first significant campaign to recruit 1,400 employees at its new state-of-the-art Engine Manufacturing Centre based at the i54 South Staffordshire business park near Wolverhampton. The first phase will see the creation of in the region of 600 manufacturing roles at the plant in the next four years.

Jaguar Land Rover is investing more than £500 million in its new Engine Manufacturing Centre bringing engine supply back to its production doorstep providing significant new resource to support continued innovation. These roles will be required to support the manufacture of Jaguar Land Rover’s new family of high technology, low emission engines. The team will be responsible for the assembly of engine components, operation of the plant’s world class manufacturing equipment, supporting tool changes and material line feed.

Trevor Leeks, the Engine Manufacturing Centre’s new Operations Director said, “Our new Engine Manufacturing Centre is a significant strand of Jaguar Land Rover’s global growth ambitions and it is critical that we have a world-class manufacturing team at the heart of our new plant.

“We are entering the next phase of the programme with our small team moving onsite just last week. Today, we are starting to build our operational team for the future with the launch of our recruitment campaign.

“We are looking for dedicated, committed and passionate people to join the Jaguar Land Rover team at the Engine Manufacturing Centre.”

Jaguar Land Rover has worked in partnership with Wolverhampton City Council, Staffordshire County Council and South Staffordshire Council to create a tailored training programme for local unemployed people to develop the skills required at the plant. The six-week training programme will cover topics such as enhanced literacy & numeracy skills, how to approach competency based interviews, team exercises and interview preparation. The programme will be managed and co-ordinated by JobCentre Plus across Wolverhampton and Staffordshire.

The Engine Manufacturing Centre’s team currently stands at around 100 people including 18 apprentices and 6 graduates. In addition to the manufacturing roles at the plant, there are also additional opportunities available in a range of engineering and supervisory roles.

To apply for a position at the Engine Manufacturing Centre, please visit: www.jaguarlandrovercareers.com.

Jaguar Land Rover delivers strong retail performance in November

• Jaguar Land Rover delivers strong November sales performance retailing 37,403 vehicles, up 25%
• Jaguar sells 6,244 vehicles in November, up 55%
• Land Rover sells 31,159 vehicles in November, up 20%
• Calendar year to date Jaguar Land Rover sells 384,339 vehicles, up 19%

Jaguar Land Rover, the UK’s leading manufacturer of premium luxury vehicles continues its sales success with a strong November performance, retailing 37,403 vehicles in the month, up 25% versus the same period last year. During the first eleven months of the year, Jaguar Land Rover sold 384,339 vehicles, up 19%.

Sustained sales growth continues for Jaguar Land Rover with increases in: the China Region up 42%, North America up 37%, Asia Pacific up 32%, Europe up 7%, other overseas markets up 42%, with UK sales consistent with the previous year. Sales for the first eleven months of the year were up in all major regions with Asia Pacific up 30%, the China Region up 28%, North America up 21%, the UK up 14%, Europe up 6% and other overseas markets up 23%.

Commenting on the November performance Andy Goss, Jaguar Land Rover Group Sales Operations Director said: “November has been another solid month in what has so far, been a great year for Jaguar Land Rover. Our continued sales success is a testament to our sustained investment in new and exciting products which are driving growth internationally and attracting new customers to our brands”.

Jaguar

In November, Jaguar sold 6,244 vehicles up 55% reflecting particularly strong demand for the XJ and all XF derivatives, up 62% and 39% respectively. Jaguar demonstrated significant growth in the China Region, with North America up 105%, Asia Pacific up 62%, Europe up 5%, other overseas markets up 16%, The UK was down 5% as the registration year comes to an end.

Calendar year to date, Jaguar sold 69,655 vehicles up 42% with increases in each major region: the China Region up 144%, North America up 44%, Asia Pacific up 30%, the UK up 17%, Europe up 17% and other overseas markets up 31%.

Land Rover

In November, Land Rover sold 31,159 vehicles, up 20% with strong performances from all models in the range: Defender up 27% and Range Rover Evoque up 10%. Range Rover and Range Rover Sport continue to sell well across all markets. Land Rover demonstrated growth in all major regions: North America up 25%, Asia Pacific up 25%, China Region up 27%, the UK showed an improvement, Europe up 7% and other overseas markets up 45%.

Calendar year to date, Land Rover sold 314,684 vehicles up 14% with increases in all major regions: Asia Pacific up 31%, North America up 15%, UK up 13%, China Region  up 14%, Europe up 4% and other overseas markets up 22%.

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Jaguar Land Rover parent says company is 'safe in our hands'

The owner of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has vowed that quality and brand values will not be compromised by its overseas expansion plans – and vowed to support the business for decades.

Last week, JLR announced it will open a manufacturing plant in Brazil in a £240m investment, with the first cars expected to roll off the production line by 2016.

This will follow the opening of a joint venture investment worth £1.5bn in China, with Chinese carmaker Chery, due to open in 2015.

Although JLR has not revealed what models will be produced in China and Brazil, Halewood’s popular Range Rover Evoque, which has taken the global market by storm since its launch more than two years ago, will be an obvious contender.

Roger Maddison, chief car industry negotiator for Unite the Union, said he sees no threat to UK jobs from the two proposed international plants.

But concerns have been raised about what impact they could have on the renowned British design qualities of JLR models, and the supreme quality of manufacturing at a company that prides itself on the high standards of its three UK plants in the West Midlands and Knowsley’s Halewood.

However, in an interview at Tata’s global headquarters in Mumbai, Mr Mukund Govind Rajan allayed any fears of compromise on JLR's standards.

He is a member of Tata’s group executive council and also brand custodian and chief ethics officer for the global conglomerate.

He told the Liverpool Post: “In China, setting up shop, a lot has to do with local recruitment and the value of training.”

JLR recently completed  a three- month training programme for China's “first joiners” who were tutored at Halewood in quality standards and will pass on their skills to the rest of the Chinese workforce.

Mr Rajan added: “We have terrific practices in the company and translating this to new facilities is not much of an issue.

“The brand will not undergo any changes in these markets. JLR brands will remain.

“Customers across the world have an affinity to JLR brands and the last thing we need to do as an owner is disrupt that relationship.

“We don’t want to create any kind of trouble for these brands.”

Mr Rajan said Tata had been delighted with the performance of JLR since it bought the group from Ford for £1.15bn and injected a further £1.5bn in 2009 to ensure its survival during one of the worst downturns in the automotive sector in decades.

And he reassured the UK workforce that Tata will be the custodian of JLR for decades to come.

“We have been delighted with the way the company and employees responded to the challenges at JLR,” he said.

“It is not about how do we save cash and cut back. It is about what do we do to build the business in the next 50 years. We don’t enter businesses easily, but when we do we are in it for the long term.

“We are not an aggressive, acquisitive entity, firing management and stripping assets and moving on. We build in the long term.”

When Tata bought JLR,  it also acquired Corus Steel in the UK and Mr Rajan admitted that there was a perception among Indian commentators and market analysts that the JLR deal was the “dodgier” of the two, but he said: “On current form,  JLR is turning out to be one of our outstanding successes.

“We work with the unions and the community and with JLR we have been very lucky and fortunate.

“There is a fair amount of satisfaction that a lot of growth has been seen and perhaps it has surprised the company, particularly the growth in China.

“But when we went in, this company had tradition and a legacy and a very interesting product pipeline and smart managers.

“We committed capital to ensure that pipeline was delivered and we needed leadership that was willing to give people the space to pursue their dreams.

“JLR meant a lot to the Tata group and they have a lot of time for the company and the new owners that inspired the managers.

“They knew we were watching and waiting for their success. It says a lot about the quality of the people we have there.”

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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 posts huge sales increases across the board

• Jaguar Land Rover North America increases 37 percent in November, for its best November sales result since 2005
• Jaguar continues industry-leading growth streak with 103 percent growth in November on new XF and XJ All Wheel Drive models and F-TYPE sales
• Land Rover brand has its best ever November sales increasing 25 percent on strong Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque demand

Jaguar Land Rover North America today reported November 2013 U.S. sales: Jaguar sales were 1,446 units, 103 percent up from 713 units in November 2012; Land Rover sales reached an all-time November high of 4,601 units, up 25 percent from 3,687 units in November 2012. Jaguar Land Rover North America November U.S. sales for both brands hit 6,047 units, a 37 percent increase from 4,400 units in November 2012.

Year to date through November, Jaguar Land Rover North America is up 21 percent, with Jaguar up 41 percent and Land Rover up 15 percent.

"Jaguar Land Rover's U.S. business is growing for both brands and across SUVs, sports cars and luxury sedans," said Andy Goss, Group Sales Operations Director, Jaguar Land Rover. "The Jaguar brand has doubled its November U.S. business and Land Rover had its best U.S. November sales ever. We look forward to a strong end-of-year as we strive for benchmark annual results for both brands."

U.S. BRAND HIGHLIGHTS

Land Rover
Range Rover sales were 1,292 units, up 267 percent from 352 in its run out month in November, 2012. Year to date, the Range Rover model is up 60 percent from 2012. In the 2013 J.D. Power 2013 U.S. APEAL Study, the Range Rover was the industry's highest scoring model.

Range Rover Evoque increased 21 percent to 1091 units from 904 units in November, 2012.  Year to date, the Range Rover Evoque is up 31 percent.

Year to date, Land Rover brand is up 15 percent from 2012.

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 November, the Jaguar XF was the Jaguar volume and growth leader with 656 units sold, up 92 percent from 341 sales in November 2012. Year to date, the XF is up 42 percent. The current MY XF lineup includes the new 2.0T model as well as all-wheel-drive and V-6 options.

The Jaguar XJ sales were 465 units, up 75 percent from 266 in November, 2012. All-wheel-drive models now make up approximately half of all XJ sales.

The F-TYPE convertible sports car added 222 units this month.  The F-TYPE Coupe was introduced at the Los Angeles International Automobile Show in November and goes on sale in spring, 2014.

Year to date, Jaguar sales are 15,408, up 41 percent from 10,962 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.

Jaguar F-Type bursts out of the walls at Castle Bromwich

A Jaguar F-TYPE Coupe can be seen bursting out of the walls of Jaguar Land Rover’s Castle Bromwich manufacturing plant, celebrating the recent reveal of the new car in Los Angeles & Tokyo.

It took a team of 25 people 9 days in total to mount the new vehicle to its eye-catching position opposite the Spitfire roundabout.

The Jaguar F-TYPE Coupe is the most dynamically capable, performance-focused production Jaguar ever. Its model line-up includes the F-TYPE R Coupe, the F-TYPE S Coupe and the F-TYPE Coupe.

The F-TYPE Coupe range complements the existing 2013 ‘World Car Design of the Year’ award-winning F-TYPE Convertible model line-up of F-TYPE, F-TYPE S and F-TYPE V8 S.

The F-TYPE Coupe will be manufactured at the 112 acre Castle Bromwich plant, joining the other five Jaguar models: the all-new F-TYPE; the XK grand tourer; and XJ, XF and XF Sportbrake.

Over 3,000 people are employed at Castle Bromwich, which became a dedicated Jaguar factory in 1980. The site is home to some of the world’s most advanced aluminium body construction facilities and almost 340 body construction robots. On site are body shops, paint and final assembly lines for all models, as well as a press shop which operates 24 hours a day.

Jaguar Land Rover posts higher sales, profits and revenue for Q2

Jaguar Land Rover Automotive plc has today reported its second quarter earnings for the 2013/2014 fiscal year.

Retail sales in the quarter increased 21% year on year to 102,644 vehicles. This reflects strong demand for the new and refreshed Jaguar and Land Rover line up which was enhanced during this period by Jaguar’s 14MY introductions, the sales debut of the Jaguar F-TYPE and Range Rover Sport and a strong Range Rover performance.

Strong global sales volumes resulted in revenues of £4,612m for the second quarter, up 40% on the same period last year.

Profit before tax increased to £668m for the quarter supported by strong sales.

For the first half of the 2013/2014 fiscal year the company reported retail sales of 197,363, up 16% year on year. Revenues were £8,709m, up 26% year on year and profit before tax was £1,083m, up 42% year on year.

Commenting on the results, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ralf Speth said: "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 engaging product line-up.

“Our customers are at the heart of everything we do and we remain committed to exceeding expectations and delivering outstanding customer experience in all areas of our business.”   

USA - Jaguar Land Rover increases October sales by huge percentage

• Jaguar Land Rover North America increases 52 percent in October
• Jaguar continues industry-leading growth streak with 117 percent growth in October on new XF and XJ All Wheel Drive models and F-TYPE sales
• Land Rover brand has its best October sales performance in its 26 year U.S. history, increasing 37 percent on strong Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque demand

Jaguar Land Rover North America today reported October 2013 U.S. sales: Jaguar sales were 1,515 units, 117 percent up from 699 units in October 2012; Land Rover sales were 4,286 units, up 37 percent from 3,129 units in October 2012. Jaguar Land Rover North America October U.S. sales for both brands hit 5,801 units, a 52 percent increase from 3,828 units in October 2012.

Year to date through October, Jaguar Land Rover North America is up 19 percent, with Jaguar up 36 percent and Land Rover up 14 percent.

"The Jaguar Land Rover business in the United States is flourishing in the wake of multiple new product introductions for both brands and rising consumer demand," said Andy Goss, Group Sales Operations Director, Jaguar Land Rover.  The Jaguar brand, led by our updated lineup of sedans and sports cars, continues its dramatic growth streak with a more than doubling of its monthly business. On the Land Rover, side we had our best October ever as the Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque continued their consistent growth pace this year, and we are just starting to ramp up availability of the new Range Rover Sport."

U.S. BRAND HIGHLIGHTS
Land Rover

Range Rover sales were 1,184 units, up 194 percent from 403 in its run out month in October, 2012. Year to date, the Range Rover model is up 49 percent from 2012. In the 2013 J.D. Power 2013 U.S. APEAL Study, the Range Rover was the industry's highest scoring model.

Range Rover Evoque increased 49 percent to 959 units from 645 units in October, 2012.  Year to date, the Range Rover Evoque is up 33 percent.

The Land Rover LR2 and LR4 models are up 44 percent and 19 percent respectively for the month of October.

Year to date, Land Rover is up 14 percent from 2012.

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 October, the Jaguar XF was the Jaguar volume and growth leader with 611 units sold, up 120 percent from 278 sales in October 2012. Year to date, the XF is up 39 percent. The current MY XF lineup includes the new 2.0T model as well as all wheel drive and V-6 options.

The Jaguar XJ sales were 454 units, up 75 percent from 260 in October, 2012. All Wheel Drive models now make up approximately half of all XJ sales.

The F-TYPE convertible sports car added 353 units this month.

Year to date, Jaguar sales are 13,962, up 36 percent from 10,249 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 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

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.

273 graduates added to JLR intake makes almost 1000 over three years

JAGUAR LAND ROVER WELCOMES NEW 2013 GRADUATE INTAKE TAKING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF GRADUATES RECRUITED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS TO ALMOST 1000

• 273 new graduates begin their careers with Jaguar Land Rover – The UK’s Responsible Business of the Year
• New recruits takes the total number of graduates recruited in the last three years to almost 1,000
• Graduates receive inspirational address from Sir David Brailsford, Performance Director of British Cycling
• Jaguar Land Rover graduate programme is the highest ranked programme from an automotive manufacturer in the Times Top 100 List of Graduate Employers

Jaguar Land Rover has today underlined its commitment to developing the necessary skills needed to secure the future of the UK automotive industry with the recruitment of a further 273 graduates. The 2013 intake were joined on their first day with the company by 19 graduates recruited by Jaguar Land Rover’s National Sales Companies in South Africa, the USA, China, Australia and Europe. This latest tranche of graduates takes the total number recruited in the last three years to almost 1,000.

Recruited from many of the country’s leading academic institutions, the new graduates are joining at anexciting juncture in the company’s rich history. Today Jaguar Land Rover is the UK’s largest premium automotive manufacturer representing two of the most iconic British motoring marques that are reaching global consumers in more markets than ever before thanks to a truly engaging product line-up.

Dr. Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover CEO said: "Jaguar Land Rover's drive towards excellence in research, design and innovation has seen us invest heavily in our business but our future success lies in our ability to deliver even more advanced and sustainable products.

"This can only be achieved through a continued commitment to the next generation of innovators who will lead the advancement of technologies required to shape the future of our company and the wider automotive industry."

In July, Jaguar Land Rover was named Responsible Business of the Year by Business in the Community for, amongst other things, its role in championing the agenda around the advancement of skills and development of young people. And as the highest ranking automotive manufacturer in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers index, Jaguar Land Rover certainly has a proven track record in developing the future generation of engineers, buyers,marketeers and financiers needed to support its ambitious growth plans.

One such graduate is Cora Moffat who is about to begin her second year of the programme working in Chassis Development. She said: “During my first year on the graduate programme I have been able to use the engineering knowledge gained at university in a real business environment. From early on in the scheme I have been given a role with real responsibility and I can see how decisions I make influence the company.”

She continues: “I love the variation in my job role. No two days are the same and I am given the freedom to develop my skills in many areas with the support and encouragement of my colleagues. It has been a great year and I look forward to the next!”

During their first day with the company the graduates took part in an in-depth introductory programme where they met with members of the Jaguar Land Rover Board, familiarised themselves with the latest vehicle line up and had a glimpse at some of the products of the future. They also received an inspirational speech on teamwork, commitment and leadership from Performance Director of British Cycling and Team Principal of Team Sky, Sir David Brailsford.

Sir David Brailsford is credited as one of the principal architects in transforming Great Britain's track fortunes over the last decade. Under his leadership Team GB has become the most successful track cycling team in modern history with numerous victories at the Athens, Beijing and London Olympics.

Speaking to graduates, Sir David said: " You are about to embark on a new career with a company currently at the forefront of automotive design, technology and engineering excellence. Throughout my career in cycling, I have been at the cutting edge of human performance; understanding the need for a strong team that is fully committed and motivated to achieving the highest possible performance.

“This mind-set and approach that is so fundamental to our success at Team Sky is also highly relevant when it comes to Jaguar Land Rover graduates achieving the most and enjoying their future careers."

The Jaguar Land Rover graduate programme is designed to provide the perfect blend of personal and professional development, along with opportunities to network with other graduates and build relationships across the entire business. Graduates joining Jaguar Land Rover will be allocated a home department based on their specialism but will, over the course of the two year programme have an opportunity to gain experience in a number of functions from Product Development and Purchasing to Logistics and Finance.