Jaguar Land Rover to move Discovery production from UK to Slovakia

Jaguar Land Rover is to move all production of its Discovery vehicle range from Solihull, England to Slovakia, to make way for the retooling of the factory to accommodate the assembly of electric vehicles, as well as gasoline and diesel versions.

Although parent Tata Motors warned in 2016 of its intentions to move its production of Discovery models to Slovakia, the timing of the decision nevertheless came as a bit of a surprise.

"This significant investment and technology upgrade in Solihull in order to accommodate our next-generation of flagship Land Rover models, and the refit of our Halewood plant for the next Evoque, is proof that we remain committed both to the UK and to transformation and growth," the company said.

All Discovery production is expected to have been moved out of the UK by 2019, Britain’s biggest car-maker said, which may result in job losses at Solihull, before output ramps up again.

"The decision to move the Land Rover Discovery to Slovakia and the potential losses of some agency employed staff in the UK is a tough one but forms part of our long-term manufacturing strategy as we transform our business globally," the company said in a statement.

The firm said it would spend millions to retool the Solihull plant near Birmingham in which electric vehicles would be produced.