New JLR models to be electric from 2020
Jaguar Land Rover have announced plans to only produce new models that are fully electric or hybrid from 2020.
Following in the footsteps of Volvo, who in the last couple of months promised to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars, JLR have committed to putting the brakes on the manufacturing of new vehicles powered solely by internal combustion engines.
The first electric model to launch into the UK market is the Jaguar I-Pace, planned to go on sale in 2018. The luxury carmaker have also built an electric version of its classic E-type car, but there are no current plans for it to go on sale.
‘Every new Jaguar Land Rover model line will be electrified from 2020, giving our customers even more choice.’ Commented Dr Ralf Speth, JLR’s chief executive. ‘We will introduce a portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles.’
Despite the announcement, Jaguar have been criticised for falling behind the electric movement. Automotive expert at Aston University, Prof David Bailey, said ‘Jaguar Land Rover have been lagging behind. They’ve been too slow to see the potential of electric cars – they’ve been focusing very much on light-weighting their cars and developing the internal combustion engine.’
It has been reported that both Jaguar Land Rover and Volvo will continue to manufacture earlier vehicles with combustion engines. Speth comments, ‘The internal combustion engine is state of the art,’ said the chief executive. ‘We will see this internal combustion engine, petrols and diesels, for many years to come.’
