JLR has announced plans to recruit 150 maintenance technicians across its West Midlands operations as it ramps up production ahead of the launch of new electric vehicles, including the forthcoming Range Rover Electric.

Fifty of the new roles will be based at JLR’s Solihull plant, where technicians will support the maintenance of automated and high-tech equipment critical to the production of Range Rover Electric, due to launch later this year. The remaining 100 positions are based at the company’s Electric Propulsion Manufacturing Centre (EMPC) in Wolverhampton, where technicians will help maintain machinery for the production of battery packs and Electric Drive Units (EDUs) for the next generation of JLR electric vehicles.

Nigel Blenkinsop, executive director of industrial operations at JLR, said: “Investing in people and the latest technology is at the cornerstone of our Reimagine strategy. With the transformation of our factories of the future now well underway, we’re now looking for talented technicians with a passion for sustainable innovation to help support our growth.”

The recruitment drive forms part of JLR’s wider Reimagine strategy, which aims to launch pure electric versions of all its brands by the end of the decade. Alongside new hires, JLR is continuing to upskill its existing workforce through its Future Skills Programme. More than 20,000 employees and partners have already been trained in electrification and digital skills.

This activity is supported by JLR’s ongoing £3bn annual investment in vehicle programmes, manufacturing transformation, AI and autonomous technologies, and workforce development. The company is upgrading its Solihull, Halewood and Wolverhampton facilities to support electric vehicle production alongside hybrid and combustion engine models.

Range Rover Electric, set to launch later this year, has already attracted 57,000 clients to its waiting list. Solihull will also build the first of three all-electric Jaguars, beginning with a four-door GT.