Adrian Mardell, individu yang bertanggungjawab dalam proses penjenamaan semula Jaguar Land Rover kepada JLR, telah mengumumkan persaraannya selepas lebih tiga dekad bersama syarikat itu. Keputusan beliau untuk berundur daripada jawatan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif hadir pada waktu yang mencabar buat JLR, yang kini bergelut dengan perubahan dinamik pasaran, kelewatan pelancaran model baharu dan ketidakpastian hala tuju masa hadapan.
Mardell menyertai syarikat itu pada tahun 1990, memegang jawatan Ketua Pegawai Kewangan pada 2018, sebelum dinaikkan sebagai Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif pada 2023. Sepanjang tempoh kepimpinannya, beliau telah melaksanakan penstrukturan semula yang signifikan, termasuk memisahkan Range Rover, Defender dan Discovery sebagai sub-jenama tersendiri. Langkah strategik ini telah membantu mengembalikan keuntungan JLR selepas tempoh getir semasa pandemik Covid-19.
Namun kini, tatkala beliau meninggalkan organisasi, JLR masih belum menamakan pengganti rasmi. Syarikat itu pula berdepan pelbagai cabaran besar, terutama dalam usahanya beralih kepada mobiliti elektrik dan memperkukuh kedudukan dalam pasaran global.
Adrian Mardell, the executive responsible for rebranding Jaguar Land Rover into the streamlined identity now known as JLR, is stepping down from his position as Chief Executive Officer. After more than three decades with the company, Mardell’s retirement arrives at a pivotal moment for the British automaker as it faces a landscape marked by shifting market demands, delayed product launches, and strategic uncertainty.
Mardell’s career with JLR began in 1990, and he rose steadily through the ranks to become Chief Financial Officer in 2018. He assumed the role of CEO in 2023 following the resignation of Thierry Bolloré. Over his two-year tenure at the helm, Mardell oversaw a significant restructuring of the company, repositioning its three core nameplates, Range Rover, Defender, and Discovery, as standalone brands within the JLR portfolio.
This strategic pivot brought renewed profitability to the business following a period of instability exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Mardell’s departure now leaves a leadership vacuum at a time when JLR faces a series of pressing challenges. A successor has yet to be named.
Industri automotif semakin mepada kitar semula bahan untuk mengurangkan kesan alam sekitar. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) baru-baru ini mengumumkan satu inovasi besar: kejayaan mengitar semula busa tempat duduk poliuretana untuk digunakan dalam tempat duduk kenderaan baharu, menjadikannya syarikat automotif pertama mencapai pencapaian ini.
Pelaksanaan Kitar Semula dalam Pengeluaran
Bahan busa kitar semula ini kini sedang menjalani proses pengeluaran penuh dan dijadualkan digunakan dalam kenderaan pra-pengeluaran awal tahun depan. Langkah ini memperkukuh komitmen lama JLR terhadap kitar semula, yang bermula lebih daripada satu dekad lalu dengan usaha mengitar semula aluminium sekerap dari kilang pengecapnya.
Pada tahun 2011, JLR turut memperkenalkan 16 kilogram plastik kitar semula dalam komponen seperti pelapik kepala dan penutup tempat duduk pada Range Rover Evoque asal, bersama dengan 21 kilogram bahan boleh diperbaharui seperti kapas dan kadbod.
Recycling has become a pivotal focus for automakers, with advancements continuing to reshape the industry. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced a significant step forward in sustainability by successfully recycling polyurethane seat foam for use in new car seats. According to the company, this innovation marks a first in the automotive sector.
Currently undergoing the full production process, the recycled material will debut in pre-production vehicles early next year. This development builds on JLR’s longstanding commitment to recycling, which began over a decade ago with the full-scale recycling of scrap aluminium at its stamping plants. In 2011, the original Range Rover Evoque incorporated 16 kilograms of recycled plastics, used in components such as headliners, seat covers, centre consoles, and wheel-arch liners, alongside 21 kilograms of renewable materials like cotton and cardboard.
Recycling polyurethane foam, however, presented a greater challenge. Achieving this milestone required a collaborative effort involving JLR, Dow Mobility Science, and automotive seat manufacturer Adient, with key research conducted at the JLR Circularity Lab in Gaydon. The lab plays a crucial role in assessing the feasibility of reintroducing materials into the supply chain at the same quality level, a critical consideration for automotive production.
Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia (JLR Malaysia) kekal unggul dalam segmen automotif mewah, menyerlahkan komitmen tidak berbelah bahagi ke arah kecemerlangan. Sekali lagi, jenama berkenaan merangkul gelaran berprestij Retailer of the Year (Asia Pasifik) pada Anugerah Jaguar Land Rover Retailer 2023/2024 baru-baru ini. Pencapaian luar biasa ini menandakan kemenangan kelima JLR Malaysia dan tahun keempat berturut-turut di tempat teratas, mengukuhkan kedudukannya sebagai peneraju dalam sektor automotif mewah.
Anugerah Retailer of the Year berkenaan mengiktiraf kecemerlangan konsisten JLR Malaysia menerusi penilaian menyeluruh yang merangkumi pemasaran, jualan, perkhidmatan pelanggan, latihan kakitangan dan prestasi peruncit. Kejayaan berulang itu mencerminkan keupayaan JLR Malaysia untuk bukan sahaja memenuhi, tetapi melangkaui piawaian tertinggi industri tahun demi tahun.
Tonggak kepada kejayaan JLR Malaysia ialah nilai teras Sime Motors iaitu “Care for All, Act with Integrity and Win Together”. Prinsip-prinsip ini telah menjadi penggerak di sebalik kejayaan syarikat, memupuk budaya kolaboratif dan mengutamakan pelanggan merangkumi setiap aspek operasinya.
The upcoming electric Range Rover, based on the Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA Flex) platform, is inching closer to production and release. The electric SUV is expected to retain the luxurious design of its gas-powered and plug-in hybrid counterparts, aligning with the brand’s emphasis on electrification. Sharing the MLA Flex platform allows the electric Range Rover to maintain its off-road capabilities, a hallmark of the Range Rover lineup.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has initiated rigorous testing for the electric Range Rover, subjecting prototypes to various conditions, including extreme temperatures and challenging terrains. The electric SUV is designed to handle off-road adventures, consistent with the capabilities of traditional internal combustion engine Range Rovers.
Key details, such as battery sizes and estimated driving range, are yet to be officially disclosed. However, the electric Range Rover will feature an 800-volt architecture, enabling ultra-fast charging. The batteries and electric motors for the model will be produced at JLR’s Wolverhampton factory in the UK, while the final assembly will take place alongside the regular Range Rover in Solihull, UK.
As announced recently, the Land Rover name as a brand will no longer be used by JLR (formerly Jaguar Land Rover), and the Defender, Range Rover and Discovery will become brand names rather than just model lines. It’s part of the ‘House of Brands’ approach in the company’s Reimagine roadmap moving forward.
For a start, the Defender brand will have an additional model – the new Defender 130 Outbound – along with the Defender 130 V8. These join the Defender 110 which will now be available with a new heritage-inspired County Exterior Pack, the Hardtop commercial model, and the advanced P400e PHEV variant.
One of Britain’s most cherished automakers, Land Rover, is no more. As the custodian of the four brands Jaguar, Range Rover, Discovery, and Defender, it is currently known simply as JLR.
They are all turning electric now and a significant £15 billion (RM82.6 billion) investment in the UK automobile industry proves it.
There are likely to be many who grieve JLR’s decision to stop using the Land Rover name; it receives not a single mention in the press releases.
Having been around for 75 years, Land Rover is a brand name that is recognisable all over the world. Its original Defender model had a highly recognisable shape which is embedded in the brand’s design DNA. It is associated with 4×4 vehicles in the same way as Jeep and in fact, spread further around the world than the American brand.
In spite having periods of difficulty at different times in its history, Land Rover soldiered on like the tough vehicles it has produced. Although it can lay claim to having given the world the first premium SUV – the Range Rover – back in 1970, it only truly entered the premium segment when the 21st century began.
The success of the Range Rover in the premium segment led to the company establishing its name as a brand on its own around 10 years ago. The Range Rover brand would be for the premium models while Land Rover would be for models like the Freelander, Discovery and Defender.
Aiming for net zero carbon emissions by 2039, in line with the Reimagine strategy announced last month, Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) aim includes zero tailpipe emissions from its vehicles by 2036. This means that internal combustion engines will no longer be used. Electrical power is the most viable solution for future powertrains as they will have zero emissions, and JLR is developing various prototypes.
Fuel cells, spin-offs from the space program, are being considered by a number of manufacturers, some of whom already have commercialised fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). JLR is also looking to use a hydrogen fuel cell and is developing a prototype FCEV based on the latest Land Rover Defender.
Advantages of hydrogen FCEV
FCEVs, which generate electricity from hydrogen to power an electric motor, are complimentary to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) on the journey to net zero vehicle emissions. Hydrogen-powered FCEVs provide high energy density and rapid refuelling, and minimal loss of range in low temperatures, making the technology ideal for larger, longer-range vehicles, or those operated in hot or cold environments.
Since 2018, the global number of FCEVs on the road has nearly doubled while hydrogen refuelling stations have increased by more than 20%. By 2030, forecasts predict hydrogen-powered FCEV deployment could top 10 million with 10,000 refuelling stations worldwide.
JLR’s advanced engineering project, known as Project Zeus, is partly funded by the government-backed Advanced Propulsion Centre, and will allow engineers to understand how a hydrogen powertrain can be optimised to deliver the performance and capability expected by its customers: from range to refuelling, and towing to off-road ability.
The Defender’s platform, which can accommodate combustion engines as well as hybrid powertrains, is also being used for the development of a fuel cell electric vehicle.
The project also has other partners involved such as Delta Motorsport, AVL, Marelli Automotive Systems and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) to research, develop and create the prototype FCEV with testing scheduled to begin this year. The testing, in the UK, will verify key attributes such as off-road capability and fuel consumption.
“We know hydrogen has a role to play in the future powertrain mix across the whole transport industry, and alongside battery electric vehicles, it offers another zero tailpipe emission solution for the specific capabilities and requirements of Jaguar Land Rover’s world class line-up of vehicles. The work done alongside our partners in Project Zeus will help us on our journey to become a net zero carbon business by 2039, as we prepare for the next generation of zero tailpipe emissions vehicles,” said Ralph Clague, Head of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells for Jaguar Land Rover.
A Land Rover factory in the UK.
Producton facilities are carbon neutral
JLR was the first UK automotive manufacturer to have met the internationally recognised PAS 2060 standard for carbon neutrality across its vehicle manufacturing assembly operations and product development sites. In January last year, its facilities completed a second consecutive year being certified as carbon-neutral by the Carbon Trust. Together, these sites represent 77% of JLR’S global vehicle production.
The Carbon Trust re-certification is part of the carmaker’s journey to ‘Destination Zero’, after it was originally achieved two years ahead of a commitment to operate carbon-neutral UK manufacturing by 2020.
