• Jaguar Land Rover has invested £230m in its Halewood manufacturing plant to support the Range Rover Evoque since 2011.
  • More than 220,000 Range Rover Evoques built in 24 months
  • Halewood workforce trebled to 4,500 in less than 3 years
  • £3bn in supplier contracts for UK businesses, for Range Rover Evoque, since 2011
  • More than 2,300 Halewood employees through skills programmes

Halewood, UK: As demand for the Range Rover Evoque continues around the world, Jaguar Land Rover is celebrating two-years production for the award winning Range Rover Evoque at its Halewood advanced manufacturing plant. 

Jaguar Land Rover has invested more than £230 million in Halewood since 2011 for Range Rover Evoque production. This includes improvements to the manufacturing plant, such as Jaguar Land Rover's first contrast roof spray robot and the £5m under-body storage (Kipper) system, which was vital in ensuring Halewood could move to 24 hour production for the first time in the 50-year history of the plant. 

The Evoque success has also spread out into the wider UK automotive supply sector. Since 2011 Jaguar Land Rover has awarded £3bn worth of supply contracts to more than 40 companies in the UK, many in the North West. In addition, due to continued global demand for Range Rover Evoque, in May 2012, Jaguar Land Rover announced a new external logistics centre in Ellesmere Port, creating an additional 300 new jobs.

Since 2011 the Halewood workforce has trebled to 4,500 employees. As part of Jaguar Land Rover's commitment to developing the skills of its employees, more than 2,300 employees have completed training programmes over the past year. This includes over 1,800 Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeships, 76 NVQs and more than 430 learners across three other skills programmes including the Level 3 Group Leader Programme.

Halewood continues to operate 24 hours a day to cater for the strong global demand for Land Rover Freelander 2 and Range Rover Evoque and in recognition to the growth, investment and impact on the local economy, the plant has received a number of regional awards over the past 12 months.

Two years ago, when the first vehicle rolled off the production line, the Range Rover Evoque had already generated an exceptional market response with more than 18,000 advance orders from customers worldwide. This interest continues today with demand for the Range Rover Evoque driving sales of more than 108,000 units in 2012, the first time a single Jaguar Land Rover vehicle line has exceeded the 100,000 milestone in just 1 year.

Halewood Operations Director, Richard Else, said:"The Range Rover Evoque has been a huge success for the company and Halewood. Even after 2-years and with almost 200,000 on the road, this car still turns heads wherever you go, which is a remarkable achievement."

"Equally amazing is the 4,500 strong workforce at Halewood. Just 12 months ago when we added 1,000 new jobs, to move to 24-hour production, we had 35,000 applicants applying to be part of the team. This says a huge amount about the desire to work here. We have a proud team, building two outstanding Jaguar Land Rover vehicles. It is a superb centre of manufacturing excellence, which is playing a significant part in the unprecedented growth of the company."

The Range Rover Evoque is designed, engineered and manufactured in the UK with around 80 per cent of production exported to 177 global markets - generating an estimated £2 billion in annual export value for the UK.

With more than 130 global awards under its belt, the Range Rover Evoque has gained critical acclaim from customers and media alike. The Range Rover Evoque continues to receive plaudits for its concept car looks, dynamic driving performance, class leading off-road skills and excellent cost of ownership.

Ends.

Notes to Editors:

• Jaguar Land Rover has ambitious plans for sustainable growth and profitability.
• Halewood Operations was built in 1962 by Ford Motor Company and became a Jaguar plant in 2000. It covers 300 acres and employs circa 4,500 people.
• In the last year, Halewood Operations has received the following awards:
  • Export Business of the Year (Liverpool Post Regional Business Awards 2013)
  • North West Manufacturer (TheBusinessDesk North West Business Masters Awards 2013)
  • Liverpool City Region Apprentice Employer of the Year (Liverpool City Region Apprenticeship Awards 2013)
  • Outstanding Contribution to North West Manufacturing (Insider Made in the North West Awards 2013)
  • International Inward Investment Award (Insider North West International Trade Awards 2012)
  • Judges' Choice Award for Business (Knowsley Business & Regeneration Awards 2012)
  • Jaguar Land Rover has three advanced manufacturing facilities in the UK and is building its first state of the art advanced engine facility at i54 South Staffordshire Business Park investing more than £500m and creating almost 1,400 new jobs.
  • Jaguar Land Rover will invest circa £2.75bn in its products and facilities in the financial year to March 2014.
  • Jaguar Land Rover employs more than 25 000 people and sells vehicles in 177 countries around the world. More than 80% of our business is exported.
  • Jaguar Land Rover has recruited over 9,000 people in the last two years.
  • Jaguar Land Rover is the only UK automotive company to be rated Platinum in the Business in the Community Corporate Social Responsibility Index 2012.

For further information please visit our media website (http://newsroom.jaguarlandrover.com) or contact:

Neil Roscoe, Plant Communications Officer (Halewood)
T: 0151 448 3543 M: 07500 814114 Email: nroscoe@jaguarlandrover.com

Lisa Palmer, Senior Communications Officer
M: + 44 (0) 7557 540611 E:  lpalmer1@jaguarlandrover.com

Ken McConomy, Head of Corporate Relations
M: +44 (0) 7714 725 236 E:  kmcconom@jaguarlandrover.com