JLR to Invest £65 Million in Expanding Custom Luxury Car Color Facilities

Prime Highlights: 

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is investing £65 million ($81.1 million) to enhance its global custom paint facilities. 

The investment is driven by a significant increase in customer interest for bespoke paint options, particularly for Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models. 

Expansion includes new paint facilities at JLR’s Castle Bromwich (UK) and Nitra (Slovakia) sites, enabling the company to fulfill 17,000 additional orders annually. 

Key Background: 

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the UK-based luxury car manufacturer, has announced plans to invest £65 million ($81.1 million) to enhance its global special paint facilities. This move is aimed at meeting the growing demand for personalized luxury vehicles across the company’s brands while also addressing the environmental impact associated with traditional manufacturing methods. 

In the past fiscal year, JLR has seen a substantial increase in customer demand for custom color options, with a notable surge in interest for its Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models. The investment will focus on expanding bespoke paint capabilities and luxury elevated palettes, allowing JLR to better serve the increasing number of customers seeking individualized vehicle finishes. 

The expansion includes the construction of new paint facilities at JLR’s Castle Bromwich site in West Midlands, England, and its Nitra facility in Slovakia. These upgrades will increase the company’s ability to fulfill an additional 17,000 client orders annually and introduce exclusive paint colours across other JLR brands for the first time. 

Andrea Debbane, JLR’s Chief Sustainability Officer, emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainability, stating that the expansion would meet the demand for vehicle personalization while minimizing environmental impact. The £41 million investment at Castle Bromwich includes £26 million dedicated to upgrading existing paint booths. New, fully automated spray robots will reduce paint waste by 30% compared to traditional hand painting methods. 

At the Nitra plant, a £10 million universal paint line is being developed. This facility will feature fully electric paint booths and curing ovens, aimed at reducing CO2e emissions by approximately 500 metric tonnes annually. The new line will also allow for an unlimited range of colour options, with the first vehicles expected in 2026. 

Additionally, JLR is introducing a Smart Oven control system and a heat exchanger to optimize energy efficiency and reduce CO2e emissions by 2,250 metric tonnes per year. This investment reflects JLR’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and personalized luxury for its customers.