Jaguar Land Rover, known for its luxurious SUVs and sedans, might be getting a jumpstart on electric vehicles thanks to China. It is owned by India’s Tata Motors and it is reportedly close to a deal with Chery and one of China’s biggest automakers.
This deal would give JLR access to Chery’s EV platforms, something JLR currently lacks. The two companies have already collaborated on car production in China, so this partnership makes sense. Rumors suggest other high-end European automakers are also eyeing Chery’s E0X architecture for their electric vehicles.
Electric Land Rovers and Jaguars could be on the horizon thanks to a potential deal with China’s Chery, the country’s third-largest automaker. JLR, owned by Tata Motors, currently lacks its own electric vehicle platform, making this collaboration a potential game-changer.
According to CNEVPost, JLR plans to build both hybrids and fully electric vehicles using Chery’s platform. These future JLR models would share technology with Chery’s Exeed luxury brand vehicles, but specifics remain unknown.
While there’s no word on when the first JLR vehicle built on the Chery platform will debut, JLR has announced plans to launch six electric vehicles across all its brands by 2026. The first of these is expected to be an all-electric Range Rover coming later in 2024, though it’s unclear if it will use the Chery platform.
This partnership highlights the pressure on luxury carmakers to electrify their fleets. JLR, which has only ever produced one electric car (the Jaguar I-Pace), is lagging behind German rivals who already offer a range of electric vehicles. The potential Chery deal could be JLR’s chance to catch up in the race towards electric luxury cars.
They have been shaking things up lately. Last year, they restructured their brands, making Range Rover, Defender, Discovery, and Jaguar independent sub-brands. This collaboration with Chery builds upon their existing partnership in China, which began in 2012 and focuses on producing specific models like the long-wheelbase Jaguar XF, the Range Rover Evoque, and the Land Rover Discovery Sport.
Here are some additional points of interest:
- JLR’s parent company, Tata Motors, plans to build a giant 40-gigawatt-hour battery cell factory in the UK.
- JLR has also chosen Tata’s subsidiary, Agratas, to supply batteries for their future electric vehicles with a targeted range of 450 miles.
They are serious about electrification. They’ve pledged to become an all-electric brand by 2023 and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2039. To achieve these ambitious goals, they’re embracing an “Open Innovation” strategy.
This means they’re open to collaborating with other companies to share resources and accelerate development in electrification, connectivity, and sustainability. The potential deal with Chery for an EV platform is a prime example of this approach.