Brazil plant for Jaguar Land Rover

JAGUAR LAND ROVER (JLR) is to become the first UK car-maker to open a manufacturing facility in Brazil.

JLR is investing £240 million in the initiative, which will see the development of a plant that will produce up to 24,000 vehicles a year.

The factory, based in the city of Itatiaia, will initially employ 400 people, with the first vehicles due to come off the assembly line in 2016.

JLR chief executive Dr Ralf Speth 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."

By Press Association reporters