China remains focus for JLR

Mumbai : India is not on the radar for Tata Motors Ltd’s Jaguar Land Rover when it comes to global expansion plans, even as it remains on an expansion spree in many other markets, led by China. The luxury carmaker is setting up a new factory in Slovakia after opening an engine plant in China, reports Cogencis.

“In Pune, we currently assemble cars…we are convinced this is the right strategy given current market conditions,” Ralph Speth, chief executive officer, said in an interview to Tata Review, an in-house publication.

Jaguar Land Rover already has a manufacturing plant in China, its largest market with joint venture partner Chery Automobile Co where it produces China-specific vehicles like the Jaguar XFL among others.

“China is a focus country for us,” Speth said. More products specifically designed and engineered for China will be launched soon. Sales in China accounted for 21% of the total 604,009 units sold by the company in 2016-17 (Apr-Mar).

On the current wave of electrification sweeping the global automotive industry, Speth said, “We are already on the journey to electrification and that journey will be transformative.”

By 2020, all Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles will have a full electric or hybrid variant.

Speth underlined the important role government and other agencies need to play in rapid adoption of electric vehicles. Financial incentives along with investments are key to set up supporting infrastructure, he said.

Electric vehicles will not have universal acceptance without 24-hour access to affordable energy to power them.

Jaguar Land Rover also plans to attract the best talent in the business to take on competition. “We are a technology company and that is reflected in our workforce and manufacturing process.”