Jaguar Land Rover's CEO, Ralf Speth together with JLR executive officers, union representatives and employees, gathered in July to celebrate the start of new Range Rover Evoque production. The first car off the line was donated to the British Motor Industry Heritage trust.

"The Evoque is an incredibly exciting vehicle that joins a product range which is the strongest yet," commented Dr Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Officer.

The Range Rover Evoque

Halewood Operations is central to the success of the Evoque, with the workforce doubling to more than 3,000 employees in order to deliver the new model. Seventy-five per cent of production is destined for export to more than 170 countries around the world, adding around £2 billion to the UK economy. Moreover, 50 per cent of the components in new Evoque are made in Britain, with contracts worth another £2 billion awarded to more than 40 UK supplier businesses.

The launch of the Range Rover Evoque was just one of 40 new product actions that Jaguar Land Rover will be carrying out in the next five years in the most ambitious market offensive in the history of the two brands. This product creation programme is supported by an annual investment of £1.5 billion in developing new models, engines, technologies and vehicle lines.