Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to manufacture EVs at Nitra plant in Slovakia

The Nitra plant, located in Slovakia, will manufacture electric vehicles for JLR by the end of the decade.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has affirmed its commitment to the Nitra plant in Slovakia by announcing that it will manufacture electric vehicles (EVs) at this facility by the end of the decade. Although specific models and production commencement dates were not disclosed, the upcoming electric version of the Defender is expected to be among the first. This decision aligns with JLR’s ambitious plan to launch nine fully electric vehicles by 2030, including a range of electrified options for the Range Rover, Discovery, and Defender series by 2026. The company’s first-ever fully electric vehicle, a Range Rover EV, is scheduled for launch in 2024.

This announcement was made as part of the fifth-anniversary celebration of the Nitra plant, which has played a crucial role in the production of the Defender. Demand for the Defender has been so high that the plant had to transition from two shifts to three, increasing weekly production from 2,000 to 3,000 SUVs. Since commencing production in 2018, over 365,000 Defenders have been manufactured, making it JLR’s top-selling model for the past two years. This success underscores the strategic decision to reinvent the Defender, which has proven to be significantly more profitable than its predecessor and has gained substantial popularity among customers.

JLR’s commitment to the Nitra plant is reinforced by its recent investment in a £250 million ($302 million) Future Energy Lab. This cutting-edge facility can simulate extreme temperature conditions, allowing the company to conduct comprehensive testing of EVs without the need to transport numerous prototypes to real-world locations, streamlining the development process.

Commentary: JLR’s plan to manufacture electric vehicles in Slovakia indicates a shift toward more sustainable and electrified transportation options, in line with global trends. The forthcoming electric Defender and Range Rover, along with other electrified models, will likely play a pivotal role in the company’s strategy to reduce emissions and cater to the growing market demand for electric vehicles. By leveraging the capabilities of the Nitra plant and the newly established Future Energy Lab, JLR is taking steps to ensure that its EVs meet the highest standards of quality and performance.