- First production car built in Halewood, UK, to be given to global partner Virgin Galactic to support operations base
- The latest model in the Land Rover line-up has created 250 new manufacturing jobs following a $256m investment in the Halewood plant
- Land Rover recently announced Galactic Discovery competition, now extended to November 21, to send four winners to space as part of partnership with Virgin Galactic
- Land Rover Discovery Sport will make its U.S. debut at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show
(HALEWOOD, UK) - October 17, 2014 - The first production Discovery Sport has rolled off Land Rover's production line in Halewood, UK. The car will now make its way to Virgin Galactic's headquarters, to be used by the team as they continue to prepare for the launch of the world's first commercial spaceline.
The world's most versatile and capable premium compact SUV, the Discovery Sport, is the first of the new Discovery family. It features 5+2 seating in a footprint no larger than existing 5-seat premium SUVs, as well as Land Rover's class-leading capability. The vehicle will make its U.S. debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. The launch marks another significant milestone in the product offensive for Jaguar Land Rover which will see the company deliver 50 significant product actions over the next five years.
During a ceremony at the Land Rover Halewood plant, the first ever production vehicle was received by Stephen Attenborough, Commercial Director of Virgin Galactic, with whom Land Rover partnered with earlier this year. The vehicle will be used by the pioneering spaceflight company to support its operations in the UK, and is one of a number of vehicles Land Rover is providing as part of an ongoing global partnership between the British brands.
"It fills me with pride to have seen the first new Discovery Sport coming off the line here at our world-class Halewood production facility. We are now even more excited to hand the keys over to the crew at Virgin Galactic. The new car embodies Land Rover's spirit of Above and Beyond, so it's fitting that it will be used by a similarly pioneering company in Virgin Galactic," said Murray Dietsch, Director of Land Rover Programs.
The Halewood plant, which is already home to the company's fastest selling model of all time - the Range Rover Evoque, has seen investment in the site more than double and workforce treble over the last four years with 4,750 people now employed at the site.
The impact of Discovery Sport has also been positively felt within the UK supply chain where $4.47bn in contracts have been awarded to 55 suppliers.
Land Rover revealed the new Discovery Sport through an online film shot at Spaceport America in New Mexico, USA, last month. The launch of the car was paired with the announcement of Land Rover's Galactic Discovery competition, giving four friends the chance to win an once-in-a-lifetime trip to space with Virgin Galactic. Find out more at: http://landrover.us/space.
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About Land Rover
Land Rover, the British maker of Land Rover and Range Rover sport utility vehicles, is renowned for providing its clientele with some of the most luxurious and capable vehicles in the world. Every Land Rover vehicle is equally at home both on and off road, and in any setting; be it in the heart of the city, or traversing the countryside. Today's Land Rover lineup includes the legendary Defender, LR2 (Freelander 2), LR4 (Discovery 4), Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque. Land Rover designs, engineers, and manufactures their vehicles in the United Kingdom. Land Rover is fully engaged with sustainability initiatives and social concerns with continuous involvement in environmental and community programs. For more information visit the official Land Rover website at http://www.landroverusa.com.
About Jaguar Land Rover
• The United States is one of the leading global markets for both Jaguar and Land Rover
• Jaguar Land Rover employs 25,000 people and sells vehicles in 170 countries around the world
• Jaguar Land Rover has two state of the art engineering and design facilities and three advanced manufacturing plants in the UK
• Headquartered in Mahwah, New Jersey in the United States, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC has offices across the USA
• Jaguar Land Rover is represented by more than 330 independently operated retail outletsin the USA