It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA
The clue is in the title. We're Auto Express and we ensure that the cars are the stars. But occasionally, people deserve as much coverage as products – and this is one of those occasions.
The question I posed in this column a month ago was: could JLR's owner, Tata of India, make some of its Jaguars and Land Rovers in the USA? Unsurprisingly, JLR's massive, Mumbai-based parent company failed to answer it. But JLR CEO Adrian Mardell did. Well, sort of.
'We had, and currently have, no cause to build cars in the US at this time, but we cannot discount that it could be the case at some point,' he said. Advertisement - Article continues below
I interpret these words to mean that he's very much leaving the door open for the possibility of a newly built US factory or factories to accompany those production lines he has in Brazil, China, India and Slovakia.
JLR is already spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a 50,000 square foot technology hub in Portland and elsewhere in America. The company's 'Reimagine' strategy remains in place with an official 'rethink everything we do' philosophy. And Mardell is a former Chief Transformation Officer (honest) at JLR. So if you can strip away the emotion and instead concentrate on the logic, the logistics and the global political climate, it's not difficult to imagine JLR having US production lines at some point. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
Another auto industry chief with much to ponder is Elon Musk, the world's best-known electric car advocate. In 2016 he demanded a 'popular uprising' against fossil fuels. Yet he's just accompanied the US President on a tour of the Middle East, the oil-producing capital of the world. Maybe Trump has persuaded him that he's missing a trick by not building gas-powered pick-up trucks and cars wearing Made in America badges.
Away from the car factory gates, another unlikely relationship has just emerged, after the Aston Martin Formula One team partnered with The Rolling Stones. Merchandise has just gone on sale and there's even a competition to win a signed Stones/Aston guitar that could become a valuable collector's item. Or maybe not, because the band's legendary guitarists are Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood – and both of their autographs are missing from the instrument. Wheeled in instead to sign it were Aston's unhappy, desperately under-performing F1 drivers, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
They're fabulously wealthy, not hungry and way too comfortable in their highly paid jobs, in my opinion. Instead, check out William von Linné, the star of the Vriden – Snow Drifting In Sweden short video that has just received my official vote and a category win at the International Auto Film Festa 2025. View the footage at www.autofilmfesta.net or on YouTube and you'll be exhilarated.
Click here for our list of the best electric SUVs ...
Find a car with the experts Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales
Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales
Is pressure from retailers and car makers finally cutting through with ministers? Mazda has killed off the electric MX-30, and we can't say we're surprised
Mazda has killed off the electric MX-30, and we can't say we're surprised
The MX-30 EV has been axed, but the Japanese brand will have another crack next year when it launches the all-new Mazda 6e saloon Car Deal of the Day: this Tesla Model 3 won't break the bank at £271 a month
Car Deal of the Day: this Tesla Model 3 won't break the bank at £271 a month
Tesla's Model 3 is a global best-seller – but it doesn't cost the earth to bag one. It's our Deal of the Day for 23 May
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
FLOURISHING AFTER 50: My son, his partner and their kids have moved in with us to save - but now they want our money as well
Dear Vanessa, Our son is 32 with two young children. He and his partner have been renting for years, but with the cost of everything going up, they can't seem to get ahead. They've been slowly saving for a house deposit but it could take years. Recently, they asked if they could move in with us for a while to save more money. We agreed - it makes sense and we want to support them where we can. But now our son has taken it a step further and asked if we would consider contributing to their deposit so they can buy sooner. My husband and I are both 61 and still working. We've got retirement savings and some extra put aside, but we're not retired yet - and we don't have unlimited resources. My husband is very cautious and thinks helping financially is a bad idea. He's worried that once the money is gone, we won't get it back - and we might end up needing it down the track. I can see both sides, and I'm torn. We want to help, but not at the expense of our own future. What's the right thing to do? Christine. Dear Christine, You've described a dilemma so many families are facing right now. With housing unaffordability, high living costs, and interest rates biting, adult children are under enormous financial pressure- and often, their first thought is to turn to mum and dad. It's understandable. You're the generation who built up savings, paid down debt, and likely bought property at a more achievable price. To your children, you may look financially secure. But what they often don't realise is that retirement is getting more expensive, we're all living longer, and your money has to stretch much further than it used to. Opening your home to help them save is already a generous act - and likely to be a huge help. But giving away money, especially before you've even retired, is a completely different decision. Once you gift a lump sum, it's usually gone for good. And if something changes - your health, your job, or even their relationship - you can't always get it back. That doesn't mean you can't help. But it does mean being crystal clear about what you can safely afford to give, and what impact it will have on your lifestyle for the next 20 or 30 years. That's where a conversation with a good financial adviser can make all the difference. They can model what a gift or loan would do to your future income and help you structure it properly, so it's protected. For example, if your son and his partner were to split up, would you want your contribution to be part of a legal agreement or loan that's repaid? Or is this money a gift with no expectations? These are emotional decisions, but they have real financial consequences. And just as importantly, you and your husband need to be on the same page. If one of you feels uneasy, that's a sign to slow down and gather more information before making any commitments. Money given under pressure or guilt often causes long-term resentment - especially if it later affects your ability to live the retirement you planned. If you need help finding an adviser in your area, I offer a free referral service to connect you with someone experienced and independent. Supporting your family is a wonderful thing - but so is securing your own future, so you can enjoy your retirement, your freedom, and the time you've earned with your grandkids.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Huge carmaker ‘may sell iconic luxury motor brand' as sales dive and new CEO takes charge
ONE of the world's largest car manufacturers looks set to sell an iconic sports car brand as sales plummet. Discussions over the future of Maserati remain ongoing as industry giant Stellantis prepares to welcome its new CEO in the coming days. 5 5 The French-Italian company could be forced to sell the luxury car brand on the back of poor sales over the past year. New CEO Antonio Filosa - who starts on Monday after being appointed last month - faces huge financial decisions as a result of President Trump's brutal trade tariffs. Stellantis - which owns 14 brands across the globe - was reported to have hired management consulting firm McKinsey and Co to review the situation. McKinsey was called in April this year to advise on struggling brands Maserati and Alfa Romeo, with both experiencing a dire 2024. Last year, the number of Maserati units sold plunged from 26,600 to just 11,300. Stellanis told Motor1: "McKinsey has been asked to provide its considerations regarding the recently announced U.S. tariffs for Alfa Romeo and Maserati." Trump's new legislation means tariffs of at least 25 percent on anything imported into the US. Maserati has no new model launches scheduled as it waits for a new business plan, with the last one having been put on hold by Stellantis in 2024. The plan is expected to be presented soon after Filosa starts his new role. But as things stand, it is understood that all options remain on the table for the world-renowned Italian brand. It came after the global firm pulled the plug on a £1.3billion investment in Maserati earlier this year. Plans for the hotly anticipated electric MC20 Folgore were also binned due to low demand. WHO ARE STELLANTIS? The EV, which translates to 'lightning' in Italian, was intended to be the brand's electric alternative to the stunning MC20 sports car. It promised a power output and performance characteristics similar to the existing V6-engined MC20. The Folgore was set to be one of six Maserati EVs set for launch over the next year or so. But Stellantis chief financial officer Doug Ostermann said they had pulled the plug on Maserati projects, claiming they wanted to review the pace in which sports car owners move over to EVs. He said: "We have to recognise the dynamics in that business, particularly in the Chinese market, and our expectations in terms of how quickly that luxury market would transition to electrification." What is Stellantis? Stellantis is the company behind iconic motor brands such as Fiat, Vauxhall and Peugot. The conglomerate, which is the second-largest maker of cars in Europe, owns 14 badges, including Chrysler, Citroen, Jeep and Maserati. The company itself is the product of a merger between Fiat-Chrysler and France's PSA, the maker of Peugeot and Citroen, in 2021. But the motoring giant has encountered increasingly stuttering financial success. And an initial manufacturing break at Stellantis has now been extended as bosses report a collapse in demand for electric cars. Other projects, including EV replacements for the Levante and Quattroporte models, are in danger of being cancelled too. The vehicles were set to be released in 2027 and 2028 respectively. It is understood the three models would have been Maserati's electric line-up as the firm looked to adapt to the EV revolution. Before he left the firm last year, Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares claimed the low sales at Maserati were due to advertising issues. He told Top Gear: "Maserati is in the red. The reason is marketing. "The Maserati brand is not clearly positioned and the storytelling is not how it should be. "The brand is not just about sports cars, it's about gran turismo, it's about quality of life, dolce vita and technology." 5 5
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Major grocery chain to close over 60 locations by end of 2026
Kroger will be closing more than 60 stores it considers underperforming across the U.S. by the end of 2026, according to a recent announcement by the grocery chain. The news was part of Kroger's first-quarter earnings report, which was released on Friday. It states that the closures are expected to provide the company a "modest financial benefit." "In the first quarter, Kroger recognized an impairment charge of $100 million related to the planned closing of approximately 60 stores over the next 18 months. As a result of these store closures, Kroger expects a modest financial benefit," the company said in the report. Kroger said it aims to reinvest the money it saves through the closing into improving its customer experience at other stores. "Kroger is committed to reinvesting these savings back into the customer experience, and as a result, this will not impact full-year guidance," the company said. The report was also clear to mention that none of the forthcoming changes signal a need for layoffs. Employees at the affected stores will be offered roles in other stores, according to the report. The company's first-quarter earnings fell to $866 million, down from $962 million during the same quarter last year. Its total sales were also down, from $45.3 billion last year to $45.1 billion this year. Despite the first quarter losses, the company still increased its full-year earnings forecast to between 2.25 percent and 2.35 percent growth. The chain said that demand for its fresh food, store branded products, and its digital services is strong and will likely remain so throughout the year. While the company is closing stores by the end of next year, it also announced plans to open around 30 new stores by the end of this year. Kroger operates nearly 2,800 stores in the U.S. under the name Kroger as well as Ralphs, King Soopers, Fredy Meyer and Harris Teeter. The company is currently in the process of selecting a new CEO after its previous CEO, Rodney McMullen, resigned in March amid an internal ethics investigation.
