Jaguar to invest £200 million in F-Type production at Castle Bromwich

Jaguar F-Type - to be built at an expanded Castle Bromwich

Jaguar Land Rover are planning to invest £200 million expanding their Castle Bromwich plant to launch production of the new Jaguar F-Type.

Jaguar Land Rover has revived sales across both the Jaguar and Land Rover ranges, but it’s Land Rover that’s driving sales – particularly with the new Evoque.

JLR are seeking to emulate the enormous success the Evoque is enjoying at Land Rover by launching the new F-Type at Jaguar, and are planning to invest £200 million expanding the Castle Bromwich plant to make sure the Jaguar F-Type doesn’t suffer production problems.

It’s all a big turnaround from only 2.5 years ago when JLR were planning to shut Solihull in an effort to cut costs and maintain viability, to today when they’re investing £1.5 billion a year, building new engine plants, expanding Halewood to cope with the Evoque’s success and driving in to China with a JV with Chery.

The Jaguar F-Type Roadster will start production in 2013 – with an F-Type Coupe probably following in 2014 – so Jaguar need to get a shake on and get Solihull ready for what should be Jaguar’s ‘Evoque’ moment.

With a proper sports car in their range for the first time in a generation, the F-Type – with everything under the bonnet from a diesel to a 5.0 litre S/C lump – should do wonders for Jaguar’s sales and reputation.

Who said manufacturing in the UK was dead and buried?

By Cars UK