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JLR Touts Mexico for North American Factory
The managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Ltd. operations in Mexico tells Bloomberg News the country is a "very strong option" for JLR's first North American assembly plant.
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The managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Ltd. operations in Mexico tells Bloomberg News the country is a "very strong option" for JLR's first North American assembly plant. He cites low labor costs and a well-established supply network.
Last month JLR CEO Ralf Speth declared the company will need a factory in the region to stay competitive. But he ruled out a decision until at least 2018 because sales volumes aren't yet strong enough to justify local production.
Last year JRL sales in the U.S. grew by fewer than 300 units to 67,200 vehicles, as a 3% gain in Land Rover SUV sales offset a 7% drop in Jaguar deliveries, according to Autodata Corp.
JRL Mexico head Joseph ChamaSrour concurs about the timing and eventual need for local production. Land Rover SUVs account for more than 75% of the company's volume in the U.S. But while such models are the most likely for a Mexico plant, ChamaSrour tells Bloomberg he doesn't rule out local Jaguar assembly too.
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