A welcome commitment to the West Midlands' manufacturing base

Around the world, long established motor manufacturers have been struggling with a shrinking market, cut-price competition from China, and the cost of transitioning to electric power.

To that backdrop, news of Jaguar Land Rover's continued commitment to its plant at i54, just north of Wolverhampton, is welcome indeed.

The plant, which opened in 2014,, has up until now provided highly skilled and well-paid employment to 1,400 people in the production of petrol and diesel engines. With net-zero commitments requiring the phasing out of such powertrains, it would have been understandable for people employed at the plant to be fearing for their future. Fortunately, Jaguar Land Rover has had the foresight to seize the opportunity to reinvent itself as a green brand, and has made a commitment to invest in the future.

Many will mourn the passing of the internal combustion engine, and people are entitled to question the timeline of the switch to electric, particularly given legitimate concerns about how the infrastructure will cope with such a radical change.

But whatever our reservations, the decision has been taken, and there can be no turning back of the clock. 

Jaguar Land Rover's commitment to Wolverhampton will not only safeguard the jobs of its own employees, it will also provide a vital lifeline for companies which form part of its supply chain. 

The West Midlands was built on the success of its manufacturing industry. It is heartening to see Jaguar Land Rover is committed to continuing that tradition.