The Chancellor of The Exchequer Visits Jaguar's Manufacturing Facility

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt. Hon George Osborne today visited Jaguar Land Rover's manufacturing facility in Solihull, West Midlands. The visit follows a meeting earlier this month between senior government officials and UK business leaders - including Jaguar Land Rover CEO, Dr Ralf Speth - at Downing Street to discuss private sector jobs and growth.

Mr. Osborne, who was hosted by Dr. Speth, met with key plant personnel, graduates and apprentices to further understand how Britain's leading premium automotive business can work to maximise the economic benefits of its multi-billion pound investment in the UK. This includes significant investment in the Solihull manufacturing facility.

In November 2010 Jaguar Land Rover confirmed it would be maintaining both its West Midlands plants to support its ambitious plans for new models and volume growth. During his visit Mr. Osborne was briefed on the integral role the Solihull factory - which has been based on the Load Lane site since 1948 - will play in the production of future models developed around the next iterations of Jaguar Land Rover's advanced lightweight technologies.

Mr. Osborne also saw a number of vehicles set for shipment to China - Jaguar Land Rover's third largest market and a market in which Jaguar Land Rover has committed to selling in excess of 40,000 cars in 2011 generating revenue in excess of £1 billion.

Jaguar Land Rover CEO, Dr. Ralf Speth said: "It is encouraging that the government recognises the critical role the automotive industry plays in supporting economic growth in the UK. Jaguar Land Rover is investing heavily in a future that will see significant growth thanks to expansion of our strongest-ever vehicle line up, the creation of thousands of new jobs and investment in infrastructure, research and development and advanced technologies."