Luxury auto makers are all flocking to the Chinese market, and Jaguar Land Rover have been lagging behind. Today, they have signed a deal with Chinese automaker Chery to manufacture and sell vehicles in China.

The deal comes after news that Jaguar, and owner Tata motors have been seeking out a deal in the past few weeks.

China is considered one of the largest car markets, and this deal is expected to help boost Jaguar Land Rover sales. The agreement, worth $2.78 Million, is now undergoing a complex approval process.

“This is an important step for JLR and Tata Motors moving forward,” said Vineet Hetamasaria, auto analyst at PINC Research in Mumbai. “Though this is only an agreement, and it will be some time before we see the results.”

The first vehicles expected to be put into production are Land Rovers, and Jaguar vehicles will follow.

We’re wondering if Jaguar is a little too late to the party, since a recent report has indicated that car sales in China have cooled off, dropping 24% in January. Jaguar is clearly thinking that it still has a chance to cash in on the Chinese Market, but the results remain to be seen.

[Source: Automotive News]

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is looking to increase its stake into the worlds largest automotive market by way of a $2.87 billion joint venture with Chery Automobile.

With BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi all having local manufacturing facilities within China, JLR is playing catch up and trying join the club. Last year, JLR sold 42,000 cars in China, a pittance when compared to Audi’s 313,000 sold. With the Chinese luxury automotive market still on the rise, the need for localized manufacturing is increasing and will no doubt help to boost JLR’s sales numbers.

The issue that now exists however, is the Chinese government has been less than accommodating lately when it comes to foreign investment in its automotive industry. Fuji Heavy Industries proposed a joint venture also with Chery Automobile to build Subaru’s in China last year, and has still yet to be informed by the government whether or not the venture will get the go ahead.

“It’s hard to second guess whether the JLR deal would get the green light. But one thing is obvious, it’s getting harder and harder for foreign automakers to get joint venture deal in China,” said John Zeng, the director for industry consultancy LMC Automotive Asia Pacific region.

News that Jaguar and Land Rover won’t exhibit at this year’s North American International Auto Show can be taken as a sign of the diminished importance the Detroit show now plays on the global stage.

There’s more to this story, however, as the reason the two luxury brands will be absent is due to a conflicting schedule with the Auto Expo show in New Delhi, India. While India’s importance as an emerging market can’t be downplayed, the decision has less to do with growing economies and more to do with the fact that JLR parent company Tata Motors, is from India.

In addition, JLR has little new to show a western audience, having already revealed the Jaguar C-X16 and Land Rover DC100 concepts, first at the Frankfurt Motor Show and then at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

JLR has confirmed that executives will still be cruising the show floor. After all, the Range Rover Evoque is on the shortlist for the 2012 Truck of the Year.

[Source: AutoNews]

See AutoGuide’s complete 2012 Detroit Auto Show Preview here

Jaguar and Land Rover are in talks with Chinese carmaker Great Wall over a potential manufacturing partnership in China, according to two executives from Great Wall.

While nothing is certain at this stage, what’s clear is that Jaguar and Land Rover are two internationally-recognized brands that do not have any manufacturing presence in China, one of the world’s largest markets and a major source of sales for the two brands. Meanwhile, competitors Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW have all found partners in China, leaving parent company Tata Motors alone at the prom.

“The two companies are exploring opportunities for a cooperative effort. Senior executives of Jaguar and Land Rover came over and visited our plant earlier this month,” said the executives. “It’s fair to say that contacts between the two parties have already passed the initial stage, but no final decision has been reached so far.”

After Jaguar and Land Rover lost money during their messy sale to Tata, the Chinese market helped turn them around to the tune of approx. $434 million in profits in the last quarters of 2008. The market was the fastest-growing for the company in 2010, with a staggering increase of 95 percent. With these results, it’s only logical that Jaguar and Land Rover will seek to solidify their growth in the Chinese luxury segment while Great Wall builds mass-produced sedans and trucks.

[Sources: Automotive News, Reuters]

Earlier this week both the United Kingdom and China signed business deals reported to be worth around 2.6 billion pounds ($4 billion). A part of those deals included arrangements to sell more Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles in China.

Jaguar Land Rover, which is currently a unit of the Indian conglomerate Tata Corp, has committed to sell around 40,000 vehicles in the world’s largest auto market, in a deal alone worth 1 billion pounds ($1.53 billion).

The deals were signed after a visit to Britain by China’s vice premier Li Keqiang. Other large deals were also announced following the VP’s visits to Spain and Germany.

The Jaguar Land Rover deal, according to that firm’s CEO Ralf Speth, “not only signals the acceleration of our growth plans but also reflects both the importance of the Chinese market to Jaguar Land Rover and our value to the UK economy.”

Jaguar-Land Rover currently has three manufacturing plants in the United Kingdom, one in Halewood, Liverpool (a former Ford factory) and two in the West Midlands, Castle Bromwich and Solihull.

The current British Government , despite enacting austerity measures to stimulate economic recovery, including major slashes in public spending, hopes that the China deal will help spur growth at home.

[Source: Reuters]

With recent confirmation that Jaguar is planning to add new models to its lineup, company CEO Carl-Peter Forster has made clear plans that Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will expand in a big way. “Over the next few years we plan to nearly double our vehicle selection,” he said in an interview with Automotive News publication Automobilwoche.

Forster recently joined JLR-owner Tata Motors from General Motors Europe and together with new JLR boss Ralf Speth, the two quickly began to examine his new company for growth strategies. “there were many gaps in the portfolio,” said Speth, “We had to initially consider what the brands should look like and what models we should have.”

The results of this plan are now becoming clear, with news that Jaguar will launch a new X-Type model as a competitor to the 3 Series, as well as a new XE Concept that will eventually evolve into an entry level sports car to compete with the Porsche Boxster. Also confirmed are an XF Wagon and long-wheelbase model for China, while the XF Coupe continues to be just a rumor.

As for the Land Rover line, it will get a new Evoque model (which is expected to be offered in both 2-door and 4-door sizes).

A main goal for the company is the reduction of the weight in its vehicles, which will help improve both performance and fuel economy.

[Source: Automotive News via CNET]

With recent news of several new models joining a the Jaguar lineup, CEO Carl-Peter Forster has shed some new light on the company’s expansion plans – with a little creative interpretation from the folks at AutoExpress. According to a new report, the F-Type will take Jaguar down-market in the sports car segment, competing with the Porsche Boxster. Priced significantly lower than the current XK line, Jaguar could increase sports car sales considerably. The project is already part-way started with Forster admitting that designer Ian Callum has already begun the clay modeling stage.

Equally exciting is renewed ambition for Jaguar to create a new X-Type model – one that doesn’t devalue the brand, but rather works as a proper stepping stone to bring younger buyers into the Jaguar fold. Inspiration for the X-Type could come from the R-D6 concept (above), with coupe-like styling along the lines of the Mercedes CLS.

Also planned is a new wagon model, likely off the XF platform – but that’s not all. At a press conference last week Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) chairman Ralf Speth commented that the XF has been a sales success, but that more models are needed in that family. This might be a clear hint that Jaguar is planning an XF Coupe (and possibly even a convertible). The cars would clearly target the Mercedes E-Class Coupe, which has already attracted enough attention that Infiniti has decided to build a rival M Coupe.

All these new models are thanks to a major investment by parent company Tata Motors, which has decided to put £1 billion into JLR each year for the next five years. And JLR doesn’t seem to be squandering the opportunity, instead using the cash infusion to design, engineer and build more high-volume models that will allow the automaker to become self-sustaining.

[Source: AutoExpress]

With Tata just having announced a return to profitability based on increased demand of its Jaguar Land Rover models, the company is now laying out an ambitious plan for the future. Included in that plan is the production of the Jaguar F-Type – a more driver focused model that will likely compete more readily with the Porsche 911.

The announcement is part of a plan by Tata to invest £1 billion in JLR each year for the next five years. Not only will the cash infusion go towards model development, but also towards innovative technology.

Back in 1998 Jaguar showed an F-Type concept, called the XK180, but it has since been delayed several times due to instability at the company and then a shaky market. Shown above, a future F-Type is unlikely to look anything like this concept, with Jaguar having made a significant style change with models like the XF and new XJ.

In addition to the F-Type, AutoExpress also reports that JLR will add three other models including a new Land Rover, a proper BMW 3 Series rival and even a “executive estate” – likely along the lines of the 5 Series GT and Audi A7.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Jaguar hybrids will begin to roll out starting in 2013, just after the launch of hybrid technology in the Land Rover lineup. According to a report by Car Magazine, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has confirmed the XJ and XF models will arrive first starting in late 2013 or early 2014. Jaguar does, however, plan to eventually offer every model with a hybrid option.

Like the Land Rover models, the hybrid Jags will use the company’s upcoming 8-speed automatic transmission and lighter aluminum platforms to deliver even better fuel economy. Jaguar will also look to offer both diesel and gasoline hybrid models, with the diesels set to hit the market first.

Last week JLR unveiled the Range_e, a concept based on the Range Rover Sport, but using a hybrid diesel powertrain. The production model will hit the market in 2013, with testing beginning later this year.

Jaguar, like Land Rover, will also look to bring a range-extended electric vehicle (Chevy Volt-type system) to market by 2015 with 20 miles of emissions free travel at speeds of up to 70 mph.

[Source: CAR]

From the very first moment we laid eyes on the new 2011 Jaguar XJ it was obvious was the British automaker was planning – to take on “mainstream” competitors like Lexus and Mercedes with a more forward-thinking luxury saloon. Why would Jaguar want to build a luxury sedan to rival those other two? Simple: sales.

Until the debut of the 2010 model, it was hard to tell a 10 year old XJ apart from a brand new one – which is as much of an insult as it is a credit to the timelessness of the car’s design. But now the XJ looks like something younger buyers would want, with an appeal that speaks to more than just the old-money type.

According to a report by Automotive News, Jaguar will launch the new XJ next month and is hoping the car will drive up XJ sales by as much as 50 percent. With broader appeal and a fresh new design that shouldn’t be too hard. Jaguar should also be helped out by the improving economic forecast and that fact that last year’s sales were down 21 percent compared to the year before (which is a better representation of normal Jaguar sales). In total, last year Jag moved just 51,885 and the automaker is looking for closer to 75,000 units moving forward.

Along with a new design, the new XJ also has more to offer in order to compete with the likes of the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, et al. Standard XJ models get Jaguar’s new 5.0-liter direct-injection V8 engine, with 385-hp and 380 ft-lbs of torque, while Supercharged versions jump to 470-hp and 424 ft-lbs of torque. The top-level XJ Supersport makes 510hp and 461 ft-lbs of torque from a more potent supercharged 5.0-liter V8, helping it to hit 60 mph in 4.7 seconds.

In the U.S., pricing starts at $72,500 with the high-powered XJL (long wheelbase) Supersport listing at a substantial $115,000.

GALLERY: 2011 Jaguar XJ

[Source: Automotive News via Autoblog]

In an effort to reduce production costs and simplify the overall manufacturing and R&D process, Jaguar Land Rover is looking to move from its current setup of six platforms to just two. How is this possible, you might be asking yourself, especially looking at the varied models the company now produces, from the Jaguar XK luxury sports car, to the simply massive Range Rover.

According to a report by AutoCar, it wont be all that difficult and just because there will be only two platforms, it still doesn’t mean most vehicles will ride on exactly the same architecture. In fact, it will be quite the opposite, with JLR using platforms that can be adapted for different sized vehicles with different purposes. The first platform will be a steel structure and will be offered in three lengths for the Freelander range, while a new aluminum platform will underpin the XJ and XF as well as the Range Rover. A thinner version of this aluminum structure will then be used for the XK as well as a new XE roadster model.

[Source: AutoCar]

Jaguar Land Rover owner Tata Motorsw says it will close either a Jaguar or Land Rover factory in England by 2014. The decision as to which of the company’s three U.K. plants will be shuddered has not yet been made, but Tata has said which two are on the chopping block.

The first candidate is the Jaguar facility in Castle Bromwich and the second is a Land Rover facility in Solihull. The plan is to consolidate the two facilities over the next five years, with a decision being made in the next 12 to 18 months. Currently JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) employs 5,000 staff in Solihull, 2,000 in Castle Bromwich and 1,800 at the Halewood plant (pictured above) in northwestern England. There is no word on how many jobs will be cut, but Tata did say that800 additional jobs will be created in Halewood when production starts on a new small crossover based on the LRX Concept.

JLR suffered considerable losses during the recent economic downturn, with reduced demand meaning that JLR production facilities were only working at 60 percent capacity. So far, in order to meet the decreased demand the automaker has cut production by over 100,000 units while cutting 25,000 jobs.

[Source: Automotive News]

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