Expansion plans at car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover could result in the purchase of a new facility to house then distribute the growing number of vehicles it makes in the UK.
It has been mooted that the former headquarters of collapsed fashion chain Ethel Austin in Knowsley, Merseyside appears to be one possible location, as are a number of spots near Ellesmere Port, where fellow car-maker Vauxhall is based in the UK.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) announced plans to create 1,500 jobs and expand its Merseyside plant in Halewood back in January and this latest investment further increase capacity by storing cars and components, allowing it to free up space at its Halewood plant so it can increase production of the Evoque and Land Rover Freelander 2.
The search for a location in Merseyside – with excellent port access – fits with the UK’s aim to export greater volumes of goods and is a boost to the UK’s resurgent automotive sector at a time when Vauxhall’s presence in the region is looking increasingly unstable due to shrinking demand from Europe.
JLR, which is owned by Indian conglomerate Tata, is predicting record profits this year, boosted by strong demand in China and India.
