News & Resources

Business Secretary Cable visits Gaydon

24 Aug 2010

Business secretary Vince Cable has visited his fourth UK car-maker since the coalition government came to power in May, underlining the importance of the automotive sector to UK plc.

Dr Cable combined visits to Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin at Gaydon, Warwickshire in August, following up his first regional visit as Business secretary when he toured around Bentley’s Crewe factory in May, just a few days after the election.

At Gaydon he was able to fulfill his ambition to drive an Aston. Whilst at JLR’s Gaydon facility Dr Cable met JLR’s advanced research team who are engineering sustainable technologies including hybrids and electric cars.

These technologies were demonstrated in the form of the Jaguar XJ-based Limo Green and the Range Rover Sport REHEV (Range Extended Hybrid Electric Vehicle) both of which are supported by Technology Strategy Board funding, channeled through Dr Cable’s Department for Business, Innovation & Skills.

The Limo Green features an advanced electric drive motor, battery pack and a small auxiliary power generator in place of the usual motor.

It is targeting carbon dioxide emissions of less than 120gm/km, fuel consumption better than 57mpg and an electric drive range of 30 miles.

Dr Cable said: “The UK excels in making premium and niche cars and these are exported all over the world. A great example of the UK’s advanced research and development excellence is Jaguar’s Limo Green ultra-low carbon technology project.”

Adding to Dr Cable’s message, Carl-Peter Forster, Managing Director and Group CEO of Tata Motors said: “Jaguar Land Rover has a central role in the UK’s automotive landscape supporting over 130,000 jobs and generating almost £6billion in export revenues alone.

“With annual investment in product creation set to top the £1billion mark Jaguar Land Rover is making a very clear statement of intent for its future and the critical role that manufacturing, engineering and R&D plays in ensuring the UK play its full part in a new low-carbon economy.

JLR is the UK’s largest investor in automotive environmental technologies and is committing £800m to cutting tailpipe emissions of carbon.

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