LONDON, UK – Range Rover has unveiled its first fully electric model, marking a major milestone in Jaguar Land Rover’s shift towards electric vehicles after a year-long delay to the planned launch.
The new Range Rover Electric, which will be built at JLR’s Solihull plant in the West Midlands, represents a major step in the luxury SUV brand’s electrification programme as the company modernises its manufacturing operations.
The launch is being backed by large-scale investment in electric vehicle production and workforce training across JLR’s UK facilities.
10,500 workers trained for electric production
JLR said it has up-skilled about 10,500 employees to support electric vehicle manufacturing as it prepares for a wider transition away from conventional internal-combustion engines.
About 9,000 workers in Solihull have received electrification-related training, while another 1,500 employees across the region have been trained for roles linked to electric vehicle production.
The company has also installed new production lines for batteries and electric drive units to support the Range Rover Electric.
Martin Limpert, managing director of Range Rover, described the new vehicle as the product of a decade of engineering development.
He said the model was the result of “considered engineering” carried out over many years.
Battery production expands in Wolverhampton
JLR’s Electric Propulsion Manufacturing Centre in Wolverhampton is now producing battery packs and electric drive units alongside components for vehicles powered by internal-combustion engines.
The expansion is intended to give JLR greater capacity to manufacture key electric vehicle components in the UK as the company accelerates its electrification strategy.
The Range Rover Electric will be manufactured in Solihull, where the company is also investing in upgrading its production facilities and preparing its workforce for the new technology.
Launch follows difficult year for JLR
The electric Range Rover arrives at a challenging time for JLR.
The Coventry-based carmaker has been dealing with falling profits, supply-chain disruption and a major restructuring programme.
The company has also been recovering from a cyber attack that disrupted its operations and halted production for more than a month.
JLR subsequently confirmed that fewer than 300 jobs would be affected by its restructuring programme, less than a year after the cyber incident.
The company has also faced pressure from wider geopolitical, inflationary and regulatory challenges affecting the global automotive industry.
Profits fall sharply
JLR reported that profits fell to £66 million in the first quarter, with the business facing additional disruption after a fire at a key supplier in Norway.
The weaker financial performance has increased pressure on the company to manage costs while continuing to invest in new models and manufacturing technology.
Despite those challenges, JLR has maintained that new product launches are central to its long-term recovery and transformation.
At the time of its results, the company said its planned launches would leave “JLR in good shape”, while acknowledging continued geopolitical, inflationary and regulatory pressures facing the automotive sector.
