Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has opened a £250m electric vehicle test facility at its engineering centre in Coventry in a move which is creating 350 jobs.
The 323,000 sq ft Future Energy Lab will host more than £40m of technological innovations aimed at enabling the rapid testing of EVs, including electric test rigs, Electric Drive Unit (EDU) manufacturing and electric vehicle systems test cells.
The facility, part of JLR’s £15bn investment to electrify its luxury brands over the next five years, will increase the company’s test and development capacity.
More than 200 EV engineers are already working at the facility, and a further 150 roles will be created, providing a significant employment boost to the regional economy.
Thomas Mueller, executive director of product engineering at JLR, said:
“Our vehicles are, and continue to be, at the forefront of an all-electric automotive future.
“This facility, a core component of our Reimagine strategy, is essential to providing the advanced testing capabilities that will be vital to the performance and reliability of the modern luxury vehicles we are proudly developing.”
Oliver Boakes, chief engineer, powertrain test operations at JLR, added:
“Our operations at Whitley are at the heart of JLR – itself a leading business in the local community – so this test facility is another jewel in the crown of our move towards an all-electric future. This is a notable investment for the business and local economy.”
JLR is planning a further £22m worth of investment next year, as it continues to upgrade the Coventry site.
Andy Street, mayor of the West Midlands commented:
“We have been steadfast in our ambition to place our region right at the forefront of both automotive excellence and the transition to electric vehicle production.
“Today’s brilliant news from JLR vindicates our ambition. With the opening of this new Future Energy Lab in Coventry – a multimillion-pound investment in engineering – JLR are doubling down on their commitment to electrification in the months and years ahead.
“This announcement also means that local people stand to benefit hugely – equipping them with the skills they need to succeed in this sector and the employment opportunities to match.”
