Jaguar Land Rover has opened a new €1.4bn (US$1.59bn) manufacturing facility in Nitra, Slovakia.
The company’s investment in new international factories aims to offer protection against currency fluctuations.
The new 300,000m² facility, which offers an annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles a year, incorporates cutting-edge technologies and is the first in Europe to use Kuka’s Pulse carrier system, which promises to enable 30% faster transfer times than conventional conveyance systems.
Looking to the future, JLR has designed the site with the flexibility to enable smart, connected manufacturing technologies, such as shop floor visualization, by using real-time data to solve issues.
“Global businesses require global operational footprints. While Jaguar Land Rover’s heart and soul remain firmly anchored in the UK, expanding internationally only enriches and strengthens our UK business,” said Ralf Speth, CEO at JLR.
“As with our existing manufacturing facilities located in the UK, China, Brazil, India and Austria, this high-tech plant in Slovakia will complement and support our corporate, R&D and engineering functions headquartered in the UK.”
Jaguar Land Rover currently employs around 1,500 people in Nitra; 98% are Slovak nationals and 30% are women.
