JLR opens new manufacturing facility in Brazil

As the UK hovers on the brink of deciding either to Leave or Remain in the EU, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has opened its new R$750 million (£240 million) manufacturing facility in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The plant’s inauguration represents the first time a UK automotive group has opened a production centre in Latin America.

JLR’s’s new factory in Itatiaia is the company’s first wholly-owned overseas facility.

 The facility marks a further phase in JLR’s global expansion strategy following the opening of its Chinese joint venture factory in 2014.

The company states that creation of new international factories allows JLR to offer customers even more exciting new models, protect against currency fluctuations and create a globally competitive business.

The new facility will build the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport for Brazilian customers. Vehicles will be on sale in dealers across Brazil this month.

Cutting edge technologies

The plant includes cutting-edge manufacturing technologies and has the most advanced Emissions Conformity and Certification facility in South America.

As part of its on-going commitment to the Brazilian automotive industry, JLR has sourced major components such as the seats, cockpit, exhaust, chassis and powertrain assembly from local suppliers including Benteler and IAC. In addition, JL has invested in its technical assistance services to help suppliers increase localisation in the future.
JLR has had a presence in the Brazilian market for over 25 years. In the first five months of 2016, sales in Brazil increased 11 per cent. Land Rover is the leading premium SUV brand in Brazil and Jaguar is one of the country’s fastest growing premium brands with sales increasing by 70 per cent in the first five months of 2016.

Brazil is one of Jaguar Land Rover’s top 15 markets and the Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Sport and Land Rover Discovery are the strongest selling vehicles in the country. Jaguar Land Rover has 35 dealers covering all the main territories of Brazil. 

At the plant’s inauguration, Wolfgang Stadler, executive director, manufacturing, said: “The opening of Jaguar Land Rover’s new world-class facility in Brazil marks the latest exciting milestone in our global expansion.”

Brazil’s market leader in SUVs

“Land Rover is already Brazil’s market-leader for mid-sized premium SUVs, accounting for more than 30 per cent of sales in that segment. The Range Rover Evoque and the Land Rover Discovery Sport will be manufactured for the first time in Latin America, building on their existing popularity with customers in Brazil,” he added.

The plant includes JLR’s first overseas Education Business Partnership Centre which will provide a range of classroom activities for up to 12,000 local children each year.

These will help them to develop key skills, work awareness and inspire them to pursue rewarding careers at JLR. It will also spread further use, knowledge and understanding of the English language.

Stadler noted also: “We are proud of the strong links that we have established with the communities close to our existing plants and the same is true here in Brazil. Our Education Business Partnership Centre is just one step we are taking to deliver exciting educational programmes to local children of all ages. Our ambition is to encourage them to consider a career in the automotive industry in the future.”

The fully flexible plant has been designed to support the company’s future plans and represents JLR’s long-term commitment to the Brazilian market.

The factory includes several environmental features, like rainwater collection and the planting of more than 1,200 indigenous trees to help preserve and improve the natural habitat around the factory.

JLR claims to be seeking to achieve the globally recognised LEED Gold sustainability accreditation - the first automotive vehicle assembly plant in Brazil to do so.