Production of vehicles at Chery Jaguar Land Rover is on target to start in the fourth quarter of the year as construction on the new plant in Changshu, Jiangsu province, is on schedule.
Citing the company, China Daily said press and body shops at the Changshu plant started test runs in March.
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The full plant covering some 80 hectares will be complete and ready for production in the fourth quarter of the year. Its annual production capacity is 130,000 units.
The company said its globally advanced manufacturing facility, talented workers and the support of leading suppliers would give Chinese consumers world class Jaguar and Land Rover cars as well as its own brand vehicles.
“We want to be the premium automotive manufacturer in China’s premium car market, and to inspire excellence and exceed our customer’s expectations,” Chris Bryant, president of Chery Jaguar Land Rover, told China Daily.
The manufacturing joint venture with Chery was established in November 2012. A year later, the main building was completed. Equipment installation is now under way.
Zhu Guohua, deputy president of the joint venture, said “2014 is a very important year for Chery Jaguar Land Rover as we move from facility construction to overall production”.
“We are building world-class facilities here in China,” Bryant said. “We are very pleased with the progress we are making.”
Recruitment and training of staff are also under way as planned.
The company said it had now hired more than 1,000 employees “with extensive experience and skills”. The number is expected to reach about 2,500 by the end of 2014.
Staff members are receiving training in China or in the UK to be better prepared for the joint venture’s full operation later this year, according to the company.
The joint venture was also working closely with world-class suppliers to ensure the high quality of parts and equipment.
