Jaguar Land Rover Eyes Deal with China’s Chery to Share EV Platform

Apr 18, 2024 02:53 AM EDT

ORANGE JAGUAR F TYPE — (Photo : PEXELS/Chris Galmon)

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) targets to become an all-electric brand by 2030. It aims to manufacture hybrid and fully electric vehicles utilizing the Chery platform. Future JLR electric and plug-in hybrid models will integrate platform and technology shared with vehicles from Chery's Exeed luxury brand, although further details remain undisclosed.

Electrification on the Way for Jaguar Land Rover

CarScoops reports that Jaguar Land Rover is considering utilizing one of Chery's platforms for its upcoming electric vehicles, signaling the British brand's strategic shift toward electrification. This report also cited Chinese media stating that Jaguar Land Rover will use hybrid and battery-electric platforms introduced by Chery's Exeed brand.

Leveraging technology from Chery will allow Jaguar Land Rover to speed up the development and launches of future electric vehicles. Additionally, as reported by 36kr, Jaguar is positioned as the inaugural beneficiary of Exeed's battery-electric platform, with expectations for the debut of its inaugural model based on this platform slated for the latter half of 2024.

Despite a denial from a Chery spokesperson regarding a formal agreement with Jaguar Land Rover for platform utilization, Yin Tongyue, the chairman of the Chinese automaker, has disclosed that two prestigious European brands express interest in employing its platform, albeit without specifying the identities of these brands.

The Deal

CarBuzz offers additional insights into this recent advancement. Jaguar Land Rover and Chery established a partnership in 2012, initiating a 50/50 joint venture. This collaboration provided the British marque with vital access to the expansive automotive market in China, showcasing models like the extended wheelbase XF.

Over the years, the partnership has endured, leading to speculation that an electric SUV from Chery's Exceed automotive brand could serve as the foundation for a Jaguar product slated for debut before year's end.

The British car manufacturer targets a complete transition to electric vehicles by 2030. Additionally, in the previous year, it restructured itself into separate brands for Range Rover, Discovery, Defender, and Jaguar. It's uncertain whether forthcoming JLR models utilizing Exeed brand platforms will be offered globally or restricted to the Chinese market.

InsideEvs Global reported that the first upcoming JLR electric vehicle will be an all-electric Range Rover, slated for unveiling later this year. However, it remains uncertain whether this model will utilize the Chery platform. Since 2008, the Jaguar-Land Rover group has operated as a subsidiary of India's Tata Motors.

Despite producing only one EV, the Jaguar I-Pace, the company had been developing a fully electric Jaguar XJ luxury sedan. Unfortunately, the project was terminated near completion, leaving the automaker lagging behind its German luxury competitors, who have already established complete lineups of electric vehicles.

About Chery Exceed Brand

According to Reuters, China's Chery Auto recently inked a joint venture agreement with Spain's EV Motors to manufacture cars at its inaugural European factory, as confirmed by EV Motors and the Catalan regional government on Tuesday.

Operations are set to commence later this year at a facility previously closed by Japanese automaker Nissan in 2021, offering a prospect of restoring some of the 1,600 direct jobs lost due to the shutdown.