New 'baby' Land Rover to be built at Halewood

Dec 15 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

A NEW “Baby” Land Rover is set to be built on Merseyside, it was revealed last night.

The LRX concept car will be unveiled at the Detroit motor show next month. and is expected to go into full production in 2009.

Industry insiders are certain Halewood will be home to the new model – dubbed the world’s greenest 4x4 – as it already builds the Freelander model.

The move would safeguard the jobs of the 2,400 workforce at the Merseyside plant. Due to be unveiled at the prestigious North American International Motor Show, the LRX is a new compact three-door, expected to begin rolling off production lines in early 2009.

Halewood workers currently build the popular Freelander series and Jaguar X-Type.

But disappointing sales of the executive “Baby Jag” could be a blessing in disguise, as it may leave the plant with spare capacity to take on the new LRX model.

Last night Terry Mellor, senior organiser of the GMB’s Liverpool-based North West regional office, said: “It is excellent news as people have been on tenterhooks for a long, long time regarding the plant.

“With Christmas so close, the timing is even better and for the workers to get job security like this is the best Christmas present they could have hoped for.”

He added the union would now be pressing to see firm details of the development.

President of Merseyside TUC Alec McFadden said: “We’ve had a horrendous two years, with Vauxhall shedding hundreds of jobs, so this is good news for everyone. I think there’s more optimism at Ford than at General Motors.

“If there’s going to be any expansion, it’s going to be in the UK.”

But Jaguar officials remained cautious.

Halewood plant spokesman Dave Crisp said: “No decision has been made about future production requirements but Halewood stands an equal chance as much as anywhere else to produce the new model.”

The news comes as parent company Ford considers selling off the Jaguar and Land Rover brands, with Indian company Tata Motors the apparent front-runner.

Last night, an industry insider said: “All the industry expectations are that Tata will win the race to buy Jaguar/Land Rover, and they would almost certainly like to continue production in this country.

“This car could not be built in Land Rover’s spiritual home of Solihull as Freelander production is based on Merseyside.” Although still at the concept stage, there seems little doubt that production of the LRX will go ahead.

The “cross-coupé” will be the most car-like and affordable vehicle in the range, and is designed to appeal to both the luxury and executive sectors.

Land Rover chiefs are also heralding it as signifying their commitment to sustainability and motoring efficiency.

A new “eco” option will allow for lower emissions in urban environments and reduced aerodynamic drag.

Inside, “fine suede” on the door inserts will be entirely recycled from plastic bottles, complete with vegetable-tanned leather, while the side windows and roof will be made of polycarbonate – 40% lighter than glass.

Land Rover MD Phil Popham said: “It is Land Rover’s way of affirming the brand’s responsible approach to future product development.”