UK – The new manufacturing facility will produce the Ingenium engine family, starting early next year with the 2.0-litre diesel engine for the Jaguar XE. When operating at full capacity, the £500m facility will employ 1,400 personnel, with a further 5,500 jobs created in the supply chain.
The 100,000 sq.m Engine Manufacturing Centre, which took around two years to build, accommodates testing facilities plus manufacturing and assembly halls. Representing an investment of over £150m, 150 state-of-the-art machines will work across three lines, encompassing assembly robots, lasers, drilling and high-pressure wash machines.
The facility also features a solar array with 21,000 panels, which JLR says is the largest rooftop installation in the country. It is estimated that the plant will meet more than 30% of its energy requirements by solar power; BREEAM has awarded it an 'excellent' rating for sustainable buildings.
Trevor Leeks, operations director at the plant, commented: "Our new Engine Manufacturing Centre is an important step in advancing the competitiveness and capability of the UK automotive sector. The production of in-house engines will support the expansion of the UK supply chain, providing critical mass for inward investment."
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