Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has revealed plans to build electric cars in the UK, providing a welcome boost to the UK's struggling automotive sector.
The announcement took place at JLR's factory in Castle Bromwich, in the West Midlands, as staff gathered to hear the news.
The first new electric car to be produced at the plant will be Jaguar’s flagship luxury saloon, the XJ.
JLR's commitment to electrification will safeguard thousands of West Midlands jobs. The company says the transformation of Castle Bromwich will be the "most significant in the plant's history".
The Castle Bromwich plant is expected to close for six weeks so new equipment can be installed.
Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The future of mobility is electric and, as a visionary British company, we are committed to making our next generation of zero-emission vehicles in the UK.
“We are co-locating our electric vehicle manufacture, Electronic Drive Units and battery assembly to create a powerhouse of electrification in the Midlands.”
Prof Speth also said a large-scale battery plant should be built in the UK to allow the electric car industry to grow.
Today's good news comes after workers at the factory were forced to drop to a four-day week as part of restructuring plans.
The Castle Bromwich plant, near the M6 in Birmingham, employs around 2,500 workers.
JLR's latest news comes amid a generally tough time for the UK automotive sector. Recent figures showed that UK car production fell by 15.5% in May compared with the same time last year, a 12th straight month of decline, amid falling exports and a slump in the home market.
Production is down by a fifth since the start of the year, said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which has been warning for years about the impact on the industry of a no-deal Brexit.
