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JLR May Set Up Engine Plant In India

BW Online Bureau Nov 08, 2014

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><root available-locales="en_US," default-locale="en_US"><static-content language-id="en_US"><![CDATA[Tata Motors' UK subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will look at setting up an engine manufacturing plant in India, confirmed Ralph Speth, global CEO, Jaguar-Land Rover at the Geneva Motor show 2012.  The timeline for the same have not been confirmed yet. "We have started with a high tech engine program, wherein we are setting up a plant in the UK. Step two would be to go to India and then in India set up another facility with similar advanced technology in terms of inner equipment of the plant but then also delivering lower specification engine for the Indian market," says Speth. The engine range will vary from premium to lower end ones. "We have laid the foundation of the UK plant but we will take certain period of time until we get the plant up. And will take some time to equip it," says Speth. At present the company sources 100 per cent engines from Ford. However, JLR plans to continue sourcing engines from Ford even after the India plant is operational. "We will continue working with Ford. There are many opportunities on the engine side like smaller engine, bigger engine, hybrid where we can work together." The company currently has a Land Rover assembly plant in Pune to make its Land Rover Freelander. North America remains JLR's largest market, ahead of the UK. China is also catching up fast. The company launched the Jaguar XF Sportbrake at the Geneva Motor Show this year. However, the model will not be available in India. "It is unfortunate that India is not ready and does not want this car," says Speth.