JLR to Add Discovery Sport SUV Production in China

Jaguar Land Rover and partner Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. officially began making the Range Rover Evoque SUV in China on Oct. 21.

JLR tells reporters the second model to be built there will be the Land Rover Discovery Sport. The seven-seat Discovery Sport is replacing the company's five-seat Freelander.

The company didn't say when Discovery Sport production will begin in China. But both models will be made in the 11 billion-yuan ($1.8 billion) factory JLR and partner Chery Automobile Co. completed in Changshu in April. The facility has capacity to build 130,000 Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles per year. An adjacent factory to make 4-cylinder engines will open next year.

Yesterday JLR began making the new Discovery Sport at its facility in Halewood, England. The model will go on sale in Europe early next year.