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UK automotive manufacturing has already received a boost in 2015, as Jaguar Land Rover has announced plans to create 1,300 new UK jobs as part of its investment in lightweight technologies.

The focus of this investment will be the continued development of the manufacturer’s expertise in aluminium vehicle construction at its Solihull plant. The announcement followed confirmation from the company that a new Jaguar model, the F-PACE performance crossover set to hit the market in 2016, will be produced at Solihull’s new facilities.

The 1,300 new positions are in addition to the 1,700 jobs that were created in 2013 as part of its £1.5 billion investment for the introduction of the Jaguar XE.

Jaguar Land Rover CEO Dr. Ralf Speth said, “Today’s announcements once again demonstrate our commitment to the UK and the advancement of a high-tech, high skilled, manufacturing-led economy.

“Jaguar Land Rover is committed to delivering more great products. It is that innovation and relentless quest for new technologies that sets our products apart. We want to offer customers greater choice, with even more exciting vehicles, crafted with that special British flair. We want to improve the quality of life for our customers and for our own employees, creating opportunities for more people to be part of the Jaguar Land Rover experience.”

This announcement follows a landmark year of investment for Jaguar Land Rover in 2014, with the opening of its £500 million engine plant in Wolverhampton, £3.5 billion of contracts awarded to UK suppliers and a £200 million investment into its Halewood plant ahead of production of the new Land Rover Discovery range. The company’s workforce has almost doubled over the past few years, as Jaguar Land Rover now employs 30,500 people, 95% of its total staff, in the UK.