Right now, when we are expecting the introduction of a new generation Defender, Land rover announces that it will build a completely new factory in Slovakia. The East-European country was chosen in favour of United States, Mexico and other countries with strong car-building potential.
 
The announcement is not random, as the factory will most probably produce the future generation Defender. According to a press release, Land Rover will be building a new manufacturing plant in the city of Nitra in western Slovakia. 
 
The move marks the next step in the Company’s strategy to become a more competitive global business by expanding its manufacturing operations into new international locations in the future.
 
The UK is the cornerstone of Jaguar Land Rover’s business. It remains at the centre of Jaguar Land Rover’s design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities. Over the past five years, Jaguar Land Rover has employed more than 20,000 people taking its workforce to more than 36,000 and invested more than £11 billion in new product creation and capital expenditure.
 
The feasibility study underway with the Slovakian Government will explore plans for a factory with an installed capacity of up to 300,000 vehicles over the next decade. The plant would manufacture a range of aluminium Jaguar Land Rover vehicles. It is anticipated that the first cars will come off the production line in 2018.
 
Following analysis of a number of locations including Europe, the United States and Mexico, Jaguar Land Rover has selected Slovakia as its preferred location. It is close to a strong supply chain and good logistics infrastructure. Subject to the outcome of the feasibility study, a final decision is expected later this year.