Is Land Rover Defender Set to Be First Model Produced at New Slovakian Factory by Jaguar Land Rover?

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced plans to establish a new manufacturing facility in the Slovak Republic, a move poised to significantly enhance its production capabilities, including for the much-anticipated all-new Land Rover Defender. This development is part of JLR's strategic effort to increase the production of its aluminium-bodied vehicles.

Despite JLR's ongoing investment in its UK facilities, expanding operations at Castle Bromwich, Halewood, and Solihull to accommodate the production of models like the Jaguar XE, F-Pace, Range Rover Evoque, and Land Rover Discovery Sport, the new Slovakian plant will enable the company to augment its output by an additional 300,000 vehicles over the coming decade.

Dr. Ralf Speth, CEO of JLR, emphasized the global expansion of the business as vital for ensuring its sustainable growth. He noted that the Slovakian venture would not only increase production capacity but also facilitate further investment in new vehicle and technology development, bolstering employment in the UK.

The decision to select Slovakia, specifically the city of Nitra in the western part of the country, followed a comprehensive feasibility study comparing various potential locations across Europe, the United States, and Mexico. Nitra was chosen for its advantageous supply chain and logistics infrastructure. The final decision on the plant is expected to be made later in the year.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico welcomed JLR's decision, viewing it as a pivotal advancement towards fulfilling the country's ambition to nurture a premium automotive sector.

The new facility is slated to begin production in 2018, with JLR indicating that it will manufacture a variety of aluminium-bodied vehicles. Industry insiders speculate that the next-generation Land Rover Defender might be the inaugural model produced at the Slovakian plant, although JLR has the flexibility to include other new and updated models in the plant's production lineup.

With JLR's sales projected to surpass half a million vehicles this year, the addition of the Slovakian factory—alongside its other global manufacturing operations including Magna Steyr, and plants in India, Brazil, and a Chinese joint venture—positions the company to potentially reach the one million vehicles per year milestone.