Jaguar Land Rover expand Solihull factory by more than 25%…

[dutchman]

West Midlands car maker Jaguar Land Rover has announced the creation of 1,000 new jobs at its factory in Solihull. The positions are being created to help deliver 40 “significant product actions” over the next five years.

Less than a year ago, the company was still planning to shut down either its site in Solihull or Castle Bromwich. However, an upturn in business has led to them deciding to keep both plants open, as well as expansion, and the creation of a new engine factory near Wolverhampton. HR Director at Jaguar Land Rover, Des Thurlby, told Mercia:

“This is great news for Solihull. We shall be increasing the plant workforce by more than 25%. We have a loyal and committed workforce at Solihull. These jobs are well paid with great benefits. We provide high quality training and development for all our employees and we expect to receive many thousands of applications.”

The increase in sales has been largely driven by success in foreign markets, particularly China and India. Speaking from China, West Midlands business expert David Bailey (from Coventry Business School), told BRMB that it is great news:

“Land Rover, and in particular Range Rover, are doing particularly well – especially in emerging markets like here in China. [It creates] tremendous opportunities for the firm; it has got through the recession, and it is growing.

“There is a huge emerging middle class here that is eager to show-off its wealth. Also, the roads are not necessarily in such good condition and Land Rovers are ideal for this sort of terrain; and they are “prestige cars” as well, so it taps into everything that is happening.”