Work starts on UK site for Jaguar Land Rover

Work is now underway on a vast logistics operations centre in Solihull, UK, which will supply parts for the Jaguar Land Rover group (JLR).

Planning permission was granted in 2017, for the 91,800m² facility, which will be leased as part of an 11-year deal to JLR’s supplier Automotive Components Group (IAC).

IAC will use the facility for manufacturing, assembly and sequencing, and to house departments including engineering, finance and IT. The company currently supplies both components and interior trim for Land Rover and Ranger Rover models, built at the nearby Lode Lane plant.

It is reported that warehouses on the site will cover an area equivalent to 13 football pitches, when the project is completed in 2021.

JLR has said that the new facility is “critical to the long-term future of our UK manufacturing operations” and insists the centre will improve efficiency and ultimately improve road conditions for residents.

In a recent company bulletin, the company said, “[The project] delivers a range of operational and environmental benefits, including one million less HGV miles on Midlands roads, equating to a reduction of 1,300 tonnes of CO2 every year.”

IAC says the project will create 400 new local jobs, as well as endorsing the West Midlands region as an important location for the automotive sector.

Manfred Gingl, IAC Group’s CEO, said, “We are a customer-centric company, which is why it was an easy decision for us to expand our operations near our customer’s production sites. IAC views the UK as a strategic market, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with JLR long into the future.”