1,000,000 vehicles built at Halewood since 2001 including, Jaguar X-Type, Land Rover Freelander 2 and Range Rover Evoque.- Milestone vehicle will be a unique Range Rover Evoque, donated to Cancer Research UK.
- A record breaking 220,000 Range Rover Evoques built in just 24 months brings 1m milestone to Halewood ahead of original forecast schedule.
Halewood, UK: Jaguar Land Rover is celebrating the production of the 1,000,000th Jaguar Land Rover vehicle at its Halewood advanced manufacturing facility, near Liverpool, today (25th November 2013).
The 1,000,000 vehicle is a unique Range Rover Evoque, painted in a special one-off colour combination and will be donated to Cancer Research UK. The vehicle is a Fuji-White, Dynamic with ebony-black alloy wheels and distinctive and unique Firenze-Red contrast roof, matching Firenze-Red mirror scalps and red/black sports seats and interior door panels.
Global demand for Range Rover Evoque has exceeded expectations with 18,000 advanced orders before job 1 on 4 July 2011. With continued demand for Evoque and growing sales of Land Rover Freelander 2, this production milestone was achieved earlier than predicted. Production volume at Halewood has increased significantly over the past 12 months due to 24 hour working, bringing the arrival of the 1,000,000 vehicle ahead of original forecasts.
Between 2001 and 2009, 363,603 Jaguar X-Type and X-Type Estates were manufactured at Halewood. The Jaguar X-Type was Jaguar’s best-selling model during much of its production run and was Jaguar’s first compact executive car for 50 years. In 2002, the Jaguar X-Type Diesel 2.0 was launched and made history for the company as Jaguar’s first ever diesel model. Also in 2002 the Jaguar X-Type Estate was launched, again making history as Jaguar’s first ever estate vehicle.
In 2003 the X-Type achieved best in class Paint Appearance in the JD Power US survey, a hotly contended and sought after prize, which was retained in 2004 and again in 2006. In 2005 Halewood celebrated another significant manufacturing award, this time with the JD Power European Gold Plant Award in Recognition of X-Type’s excellent quality. In 2006 the 2.2 Diesel was launched and in December 2009 the last Jaguar X-Type drove off the line at Halewood.
In 2005 manufacturing preparation works commenced, following significant investment by Land Rover, for the production of the all new Land Rover Freelander 2. On 25 October 2006 the Land Rover Freelander 2 Job 1 drove off the production line and was welcomed into the world by Premier League footballers from Liverpool Football Club. In May 2012 Halewood celebrated the 300,000 production milestone. The global demand for Freelander 2 continues today and it has been one of Land Rover’s most popular models with 381,211 being manufactured to date.
In July 2011 Halewood, and the world, welcomed the arrival of the Range Rover Evoque. The smallest, most efficient production Range Rover ever made. When the Evoque started life it had already generated an exceptional market response with more than 18,000 advance orders from customers worldwide. Waiting lists for the car peaked at 12 months for some markets during the second half of 2011. As a result of this demand, Halewood Operations moved to 24 hour production for the first time in its 50 year history. The Evoque has received over 130 global awards and is the biggest selling Jaguar Land Rover vehicle, breaking Jaguar Land Rover production volume records in both of its first two years of production. Halewood has manufactured 255,186 to date.
Richard Else, Operations Director, Halewood, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating this huge milestone for Halewood. This unique Evoque looks stunning and is a one-off vehicle that will raise money for Cancer Research UK projects here in the North West.”
“Over the past few years many of the families of my growing team have been impacted by various forms of cancer. This milestone vehicle, built with pride at Halewood, will help raise much needed funds to help eradicate this dreadful disease.”
The 1,000,000th vehicle will be donated to Cancer Research UK, who will take ownership of the vehicle later in the year. The CRUK team will be placing the car in a special auction event in 2014. Details of the event will be revealed in the new year and funds raised from the vehicle will then be spent on CRUK projects in the North West of England.
Cancer Research UK funds world-class research and clinical trials throughout the North West and last year spent nearly £21 million supporting the work of doctors, nurses and scientists at hospitals and major universities in the region. Every hour more than four people in the North West are diagnosed with cancer.
Head of Volunteer Fundraising at Cancer Research UK, Simon O’Leary, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Jaguar Land Rover for thinking of us and making such a generous gift. Cancer Research UK receives no government funding for its life-saving research, so every step we make towards beating cancer relies on every pound donated. The money raised by the auction of the car will make a real difference in the fight against cancer.”
Notes
- Jaguar Land Rover has ambitious plans for sustainable growth and profitability.
- Halewood Operations was built in 1962 by Ford Motor Company and became a Jaguar plant in 2000. It covers 300 acres and employs circa 4,500 people.
- In the last year, Halewood Operations has received the following awards:
- Export Business of the Year (Liverpool Post Regional Business Awards 2013)
- North West Manufacturer (TheBusinessDesk North West Business Masters Awards 2013)
- Liverpool City Region Apprentice Employer of the Year (Liverpool City Region Apprenticeship Awards 2013)
- Outstanding Contribution to North West Manufacturing (Insider Made in the North West Awards 2013)
- International Inward Investment Award (Insider North West International Trade Awards 2012)
- Judges’ Choice Award for Business (Knowsley Business & Regeneration Awards 2012)
- Jaguar Land Rover has three advanced manufacturing facilities in the UK and is building its first state of the art advanced engine facility at i54 South Staffordshire Business Park investing more than £500m and creating almost 1,400 new jobs.
- Jaguar Land Rover will invest circa £2.75bn in its products and facilities in the financial year to March 2014.
- Jaguar Land Rover employs more than 27 000 people and sells vehicles in 177 countries around the world. More than 80% of our business is exported.
- Jaguar Land Rover has recruited over 9,000 people in the last two years.
- Jaguar Land Rover is the only UK automotive company to be rated Platinum in the Business in the Community Corporate Social Responsibility Index 2012.
- Jaguar Land Rover is the only UK automotive company to be rated Platinum in the Business in the Community Corporate Social Responsibility Index 2012.
- Jaguar Land Rover has invested more than £300 million in Halewood since 2011 to cater for the growing demand of its vehicles.
- The Evoque success has also spread out into the wider UK automotive supply sector. Since 2011 Jaguar Land Rover has awarded £3bn worth of supply contracts to more than 40 companies in the UK.
- As part of Jaguar Land Rover’s commitment to developing the skills of its employees, more than 2,300 employees have completed training programmes over the past year.