British Lineage
A New Horizon Grand Opening
of Chery Jaguar Land Rover Plant in Changshu
· Chery Jaguar Land Rover celebrates a significant milestone occasion today with the official opening of its state-of-the-art Changshu plant, which is established as one of the world’s most advanced and efficient automobile manufacturing facilities
· The roll off of the domestic production Range Rover Evoque and the commencement of production operation at the plant will have a resounding impact in the Chinese premium automotive manufacturing industry
· With British lineage, world-class quality and commitment to shared values, Chery Jaguar Land Rover strives to become the leading automobile manufacturing enterprise inspiring excellence in the country’s premium automotive market
· Chery Jaguar Land Rover is committed to a long-term and sustainable development in China through the shared value approach and will continue to expand its plant capacity and product offerings
(21stOctober, 2014, CHANGSHU, JIANGSU )- Chery Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Co., Ltd, the first-ever Sino-British premium automotive joint venture, today announced the opening of its manufacturing facility in Changshu, Jiangsu Province. The plant is established as one of the world’s most advanced and efficient automobile manufacturing facilities, which signifies the joint venture is ready to begin full business operation. It is also the first full-scale automobile manufacturing facility of Jaguar Land Rover outside the UK. Sharing the spotlight with the opening was the official roll-off of the company’s first domestic production model, the award-wining Range Rover Evoque. The launch of the domestic production Evoque, the country’s first locally produced British premium SUV, heralds a new beginning for the Chinese premium automotive manufacturing industry.
“Chery Jaguar Land Rover remains committed to delivering excellence in its quest to lead the Chinese premium automotive industry through its historic British lineage, world-class quality and unique shared value approach,” Chery Jaguar Land Rover President Chris Bryant emphasized, “The plant opening marks the ompletion of our start up phase of which we are incredibly proud, and now we will continue to build with the same passion and pride, to realize our goal to be the premium automotive manufacturer inspiring excellence in China’s automotive industry.”
As a major milestone for the first-ever Sino British premium automotive joint venture, the opening ceremony also signifies the dawn of a new era for the Chinese premium automotive industry.
“Today’s Opening Ceremony not only marks a significant milestone for the joint venture, it also represents a new chapter for the premium automotive manufacturing industry in China.” Chery Jaguar Land Rover Deputy President Zhu Guohua added, “ With the continuous support from our parent companies, the local government, our suppliers, dealers and all other business partners, we will continue to offer excellent world-class quality products and services to Chinese customers, enabling them to enjoy the unique premium automotive brand experience that they most desire.”
State-of-the-Art Facility Forging World Class Quality
Equipped with the world’s most advanced equipment and technology, the Changshu Plant is the finest illustration of the excellence Chery Jaguar Land Rover has to offer. The 1,220 mu Changshu plant possesses technologically advanced Press, Body, Paint and Trim and Final Workshops, a Quality Centre, as well as an Engine Plant, and a uniquely designed point-to-point logistics system. These facilities all come together to ensure the world-class quality of vehicles produced at the plant.
The factory is designed for maximum lean manufacturing with full flexibility and a high degree of automation. The most advanced tandem servo-lines and mechanical lines enable the Press Shop process both steel and aluminium materials at world-class rates to ensure maximum efficiency and high-quality production.
The Body Shop employs 306 robots that undertake over 85% of all welding work, guaranteeing higher quality and more stable automobile bodies.
The advanced Dry Scrubber Spray system used in the Paint Shop allows for 95% of air to be recycled and achieves energy savings of the Spray Booth up to 60%. The Paint Shop’s PT-ED equipment of Rotation-dipping (RO-DIP) system allows 360° rotation of vehicles, which enhances the cleanliness and reduces the discharge of wastewater. Furthermore, the Shop also uses advanced eco-friendly water-based paint that meets rigorous European standards and adopts eco-friendly polyurethane to replace the traditional asphalt as the NVH sound insulation materials.
The most advanced decking system, with its fully automatic marriage process, as well as the first created dynamic strut movement technology applied in the Trim and Final Shop exceed those of automotive counterparts in the domestic industry. The adoption of ANDON system and RFID vehicle tracking technology helps achieve strict quality control.
Dr. Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover said, “The opening of this world-class facility is an important milestone for Jaguar Land Rover. Since its launch, one in five Range Rover Evoque manufactured has been sold in China. Our decision to assemble the Range Rover Evoque in Changshu is a vote of confidence in the plant’s production quality and the market potential for our best-selling model, which will complement rising output of desirable high-performance and off-road vehicles in the UK.”
Mr. Yin Tongyue, President and CEO of Chery Automobile said, “I strongly believe that Chery Jaguar Land Rover has a promising future and will provide premium auto products that exceed every Chinese consumer’s expectations.”
A Steadfast Commitment to Excellence
Chery Jaguar Land Rover is dedicated to becoming a leading enterprise that inspires excellence in the premium automotive market in China. To accomplish this goal, the joint venture has taken several steps to ensure that it can provide top-of-the-line quality for its customers. These include establishing the industry leading quality control system, advanced R&D Centre, and nationwide sales network.
The plant’s production operations are augmented by Chery Jaguar Land Rover’s Quality and Test Centre. The Centre boasts several industry-leading systems and processes to ensure the highest level of production and quality control, such as the industry-leading three-coordinate chamber, Hydro-Pulse and environmental chamber, and world-class air tightness standards. It conducts specialized tests to optimise locally procured parts and components to ensure the quality of each vehicle produced at the site. Similarly, the joint venture is investing a great deal into making new breakthroughs in product research and development with the construction of a R&D Centre. With over 290 well experienced product development engineers, the Centre is responsible for R&D works that cover product planning, project management, process, system and engineering applications, trial production, testing for finished vehicles, product localisation design, improvement of emission and engine performance and new energy development.
Chery Jaguar Land Rover has established a superlative operation and management structure, with a highly practical and efficient management team who is fully committed to realizing the joint venture’s long-term development in China, and to fulfil consumer expectations and needs on its products and services. Chery Jaguar Land Rover is equally committed to its sales and service network. Through the jointly-managed Integrated Marketing Sales and Service (IMSS) organisation, Chery Jaguar Land Rover will promote efficient operation of marketing, sales and after sales service work for the Jaguar, Land Rover and JV brands, to ensure that customers enjoy the best possible relationship with the joint venture, as well as establish its position in the forefront of the premium automotive market in China.
Shared Value Approach to Drive Sustainable Development
The shared value approach is at the core of Chery Jaguar Land Rover’s philosophy. Chery Jaguar Land Rover uses this approach to join the interests of its customers, stakeholders, employees, neighbouring communities, and the society as a whole together. This ensures that the joint venture maintains healthy and sustainable development, while simultaneously contributes to the development of the automotive industry in China.
In realizing its commitment to sustainable development, Chery Jaguar Land Rover has taken special care to ensure the environmental friendliness of the Changshu Plant. From materials used to technology utilized, the utmost care and concern are made to establish a green manufacturing plant.
Chery Jaguar Land Rover’s staff is the embodiment of its shared value approach, realized by the joint venture’s commitment to sustainable development in conjunction with all employees. They are offered comprehensive career development path, training courses, incentive schemes, and technical orientation programmes, which cover a variety of aspects including manufacturing, product development, leadership and corporate code of conducts.The joint venture has formally introduced the UK-CHINA Apprentice Programme to grow professional technical talents to ensure quality control is kept up to pace with global standards.
Moreover, the joint venture is dedicated to the development of the premium automotive industry as a whole. The joint venture has been working with local supplier partners following strictly Jaguar Land Rover’s global quality system and standards known as JLRQ. In addition to providing employment and fostering new talent for the industry through the Chery Jaguar Land Rover apprentice programme, the joint venture has also been working closely with the local government to develop industry infrastructure.
To emphasise its long-term commitment to the Chinese market, the joint venture has announced a slew of exciting new plans for the future. The plant will be outfitted with full aluminium body manufacturing capabilities, boosting Chery Jaguar Land Rover as the automobile manufacturer inspiring excellence in this sector. Inaugural sales of the China-made Range Rover Evoque are due to begin in early 2015. Furthermore, a second Land Rover model is scheduled to be localised and built at the plant in the near future. By 2016, the plant will be producing three Jaguar Land Rover models and will boast a total annual production capacity of 130,000 vehicles.
The plant’s opening is not only a significant milestone for Chery Jaguar Land Rover; it also marks the beginning of a new chapter for the premium automobile manufacturing industry in China. With its British lineage, world-class quality and commitment to shared values, Chery Jaguar Land Rover is dedicated to becoming the leading manufacturer inspiring excellence in the country’s premium automotive market.
