Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), on Friday, said it would invest an additional one billion pound (over Rs.8,500 crore) in sourcing parts from the U.K.-based suppliers for its latest sports utility vehicle Range Rover Evoque over the next four years.
Besides, 300 people will be hired at the logistics unit, to be managed by DHL, at the JLR's Halewood plant in the U.K.
“JLR has increased the value of U.K. supply contracts by one billion pound, in addition to the 2 billion pound supply contracts it awarded to more than 40 U.K. suppliers in March, 2011,” the company said in a statement.
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It said the additional investment would be over the next four years.
These suppliers would provide components, facilities and services to support the Range Rover Evoque production at the Halewood plant on Merseyside, it added.
In March, 2011, JLR had placed two billion pound (over Rs.14,600 crore) orders to source components for the Range Rover Evoque, which has witnessed sales of 60,111 units till April this year since its launch in September last year. Besides, JLR announced to open a new logistics facility in Ellesmere Port in Cheshire this year to support the global sales of both Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Freelander 2.
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“JLR's logistics provider, DHL, will manage this purpose-built automotive logistics site to enhance its existing operations at the JLR's Halewood plant, creating around 300 new jobs,” the company said.
The details of the new jobs would be announced by DHL in the near future, it added.
Commenting on the announcements, JLR Chief Executive Officer Ralf Speth said: “Today's announcements demonstrate JLR's strong products and clear ambition for continued growth. The demand we have seen across the globe for the Range Rover Evoque means we are able to significantly increase what we spend with our suppliers.”
In March, 2012, JLR announced to hire 1,000 people at its Halewood plant to support production of the Evoque and Freelander 2.