Chery Jaguar Land Rover to invest RMB7 bln in NEV, R&D program in Changshu

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chery Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Co., Ltd. signed a cooperation agreement on November 22 with Changshu Economic and Technological Development Zone for the automaker's program of new energy vehicle (NEV) and R&D center.

Involving a total investment of RMB7 billion, the new program will build a new energy powertrain plant and a brand-new vehicle body workshop based on the existing annual capacity of 200,000 fossil fuel-powered vehicles for Chery Jaguar Land Rover's Changshu plant, along with a new R&D center outfitted with relevant facilities and a track for vehicle tests.

According to Jaguar Land Rover's planning, the company aims to make all vehicles electrified from 2020, including BEVs, PHEVs and mild hybrid electric vehicles. As the car manufacturer's first complete vehicle plant outside UK, the Changshu plant operated by Chery Jaguar Land Rover is playing a role of pioneer in the UK-based automaker's vehicle electrification strategy.

Established in November 2012, Chery Jaguar Land Rover is a 50:50 independent joint venture formed between Chinese auto manufacturer Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. and Jaguar Land Rover. The joint venture boasts a planned annual capacity of 200,000 vehicles in total with the first phase of 130,000 units completed in 2014 and the balance of 70,000 units to be finished this year.

Jaguar Land Rover China and Chery Jaguar Land Rover showcased quite a few models at the Auto Guangzhou 2018 closed on November 25, including the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY all-electric racing car, the Jaguar I-PACE pure electric SUV, the 2019 Land Rover Range Rover, the 2019 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, the 2019 Land Rover Discovery, the 2019 Jaguar XFL and XEL, etc.