Jaguar Land Rover today confirmed a new business plan designed to increase its global competitiveness significantly, drive growth and sustained profitability, and respond to the challenges of climate change.

The plan includes decisive actions to see through the next 12-18 months as markets recover and positions the company to grow and prosper in the future. It includes a new and expanded range of products and environmental technology, delivered through streamlined and competitive costs and a new manufacturing strategy.

Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Officer, David Smith said: “This is a plan that recognises the impact the economic collapse has had on our business, and at the same time the opportunities that lie ahead for these two great brands. We are confident that a new more efficient and competitive structure combined with future investment will unlock the true potential of this business.”

The car industry has been through an unprecedented recession. (…)

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Paul Cope, Director of Manufacturing for Jaguar Land Rover, has been named as the ‘2009 Automotive News Eurostar for Manufacturing’.

The annual awards, which recognise excellence in the automotive industry, are regarded as a key benchmark of success and were announced at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The winners are chosen from across Europe by the editors of Automotive News Europe magazine.

Jason Stein, Automotive News editor and Automotive News Europe Business Director said: “The 2009 Eurostars stand out because they have succeeded while their competitors stumbled. This year’s winners have earned their awards by taking risks and refusing to fail. (…)

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By Jeffrey B. Aronson
While driving the QE I, my ’66 Series II-A 88” SW, down Vermont’s I- 91 late one winter, I noticed the power dropping off dramatically. Good fortune dictated that this would happen right near a rest area so I coasted in and opened the hood. Nothing looked amiss electrically so I pulled a spark plug, and then all four. Each plug resembled a licorice stick. A sooty, oily gunk covered up what should have been the electrode gap. I cleaned each plug in turn, screwed them back in, started up the car and continued on my way.

Two questions sprang to mind. How did the plugs get so coated, and how on earth did the car keep running? The latter question underscores one of the endearing qualities of Land Rovers. Unlike their owners, they don’t show their age.

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Jaguar Land Rover has launched dedicated apprentice websites to help its dealer network recruit a record number of apprentices in 2008/2009.
Jointly, the two iconic British motoring brands already operate one of the largest and most successful apprentice programmes in the UK automotive retail sector. Over the past decade Jaguar Land Rover’s Technical Academy has coached over 1,000 youngsters through its advanced apprenticeship programme, with 95% of participants attaining an NVQ Level 3 in their chosen discipline.
In May, the Academy became one of the first training providers in the UK to be awarded the new Training Quality Standard certification by the Learning & Skills Council.
For this year’s autumn intake, Jaguar Land Rover is looking to recruit 200 youngsters aged 16-plus to satisfy growing demand from their dealers for bright, young talent to help with the continued development of the brands at a time of unprecedented new product investment. (…)

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Vehicle by Tata
By Calef Letorney
Photos by: Calef Letorney and Courtesy of Land Rover / Tata
Just days before this issue of The NEWS was to go to press the TATA Group’s acquisition of Jaguar-Land Rover was officially announced. At this time the details of the deal are still being ironed out, but both parties have committed to the transaction and the negotiations are likely to be concluded by time you read this. Of course this new information makes the story we had intended to run in this spot, entitled “Whose Your Daddy?” focusing on the uncertainty in the next owner of Jaguar-Land Rover, a bit behind the times. Now that we know who our daddy is, I am interested in finding out a little bit more about him and discuss some of the possible ramifications for Jaguar-Land Rover and the North American Market.
Originally a locomotive manufacturer, the Tata Group of India was established in 1945. (…)

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