UK auto manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover has opened its new manufacturing facility in Nitra, Slovakia, following an investment of €1.4 billion, marking further major investment in the emerging European markets.
The new 300,000 sq m facility will have an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles a year. It is equipped with cutting-edge technologies and is the first in Europe to use Kuka’s Pulse carrier system which is 30 per cent faster transfer times than conventional conveyance systems. It will also feature a highly automated paint shop process.
Jaguar Land Rover has also delivered almost 500 volunteering hours to projects in Nitra and the surrounding areas. It launched its first employee grant programme supporting 12 local projects, including Nitra’s first therapeutic sensory room and started new education programmes to inspire the next generation of automotive engineers in Slovakia.
“Global businesses requires global operational footprints. While Jaguar Land Rover’s heart and soul remain firmly anchored in the UK, expanding internationally only enriches and strengthens our UK business,” said Dr Ralf Speth, CEO at Jaguar Land Rover.
“The opening of our next generation plant in Slovakia represents the start of a new era in manufacturing for Jaguar Land Rover. It is the latest milestone in our long-term globalisation programme and the culmination of four years planning. As with our existing manufacturing facilities located in the UK, China, Brazil, India and Austria, this high-tech plant in Slovakia will complement and support our corporate, R&D and engineering functions headquartered in the UK.”