Mayor wants JLR on Merseyside for 50 more years

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram will fly to India later this month to meet bosses at Tata Motors, the parent company of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), to discuss the future of the car maker's Halewood plant.

The visit comes after JLR launched its new all-electric Type 01 vehicle, which will be partly built at the Knowsley factory.

Rotheram said he wanted to ensure the company remained in the city region for another 50 years, describing JLR as "an integral part of the ecosystem".

Jaguar unveiled the new car in New York on Tuesday, nearly two years after its controversial rebrand sparked ridicule.

Rotheram said it was a pivotal time for the car maker, which had "gone through some difficult moments" following a cyber-attack. He added: "They've bounced back, but not quite as much as we hoped."

Rotheram said tariffs and increased competition from China had continued to create challenges for the company.

However, he said having the chance to preview the new model on a factory visit in December had been a "huge thrill".

JLR described the new car as "the most technically advanced, powerful and aerodynamic Jaguar ever engineered" and said building it in the UK reflected its long-term commitment to British manufacturing, innovation and skills.

The car, which goes into production in 2027, is a four-door "Grand Tourer" with a long bonnet, harking back to Jaguar's emblematic 1960s E-Type.

It comes at a hefty price tag, with a minimum cost of £130,000.

When asked about the cost, Rotheram replied: "That's why I haven't got one!"

He added: "Somebody can afford it, can't they? They're not making it for a laugh."

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