Tag: manufacturing

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NEWS: Erdington dealership to host Birmingham’s only “first look” at Volvo’s new electric car

Words by Ed King / Pics supplied by Paul Rigby and Ed King

An Erdington car dealership has been selected as the only place in Birmingham to host a special “first look” at Volvo’s new electric car, the Volvo EX30.

On Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September, Paul Rigby Volvo on Chester Road will be unveiling the new fully electric SUV, as the Swedish car giant’s latest non fossil fuel model tours the UK in a series of special showcase events.

Alongside two days in the second city, Volvo will be touring the EX30 in Belfast, London, Newcastle, Leeds, Edinburgh, and a limited selection of other outlets – hand picking only one dealership in each location.

For two days only,  drivers in Erdington and wider Birmingham are invited to have an exclusive preview of Volvo EX30, Volvo’s smallest electric SUV, with a specialist offering 1-2-1 insight and advice on the new model.

Available to order since 7 June the EX30 will be ready to drive in early 2024, with prices starting at £33,795.

Having received positive reviews from car focused and industry publications since it’s release, Car Magazine described the Swedish manufacturer as ‘bringing out the big guns when it comes to design, technology on board’ for the Volvo EX30 – alongside praising it’s ‘interior design… full of clever details’, environmentally friendly build, and pricing.

Click here to book a place to view the Volvo EX30 at Paul Rigby Volvo on Chester Road.

Home to the Jaguar Landrover Castle Bromwich plant, now owned by the Indian based automotive manufacturing giant Tata Motors, Erdington has long been synonymous with car manufacturing.

Although the North Birmingham constituency was denied the chance to once again be a leader in the automotive industry when Tata bosses announced they would establish their new £4bn ‘giga-factory’ in Somerset, despite initial indications Erdington or Coventry would house the battery building facility.

The Paul Rigby group is an independent family run businesses with dealerships in Solihull, Redditch, Stourbridge, and Birmingham – with its ‘flagship purpose-built premises’ situated on Chester Road in Erdington since 2013

A self-declared ‘eco conscious business’, Paul Rigby’s website further states ‘when time and consideration was taken on our next environmental steps the solution was clear, electric cars were the way forward.’

Andy Kirkham, Sales Director at Paul Rigby Birmingham, said: “We’re delighted to be hosting the brand-new EX30 and look forward to welcoming Birmingham drivers along for a first look at this stunning new car.

“The EX30 offers all of the premium quality, safety and sustainability associated with Volvo Cars, in a convenient, compact and affordable package.

“We welcome Birmingham drivers to pop into Paul Rigby Birmingham to see the small but mighty EX30 and chat to our friendly team of experts, or to book a timed slot to have a more detailed preview of the car with a Volvo Specialist.”

To book a place to view the Volvo EX30 at Paul Rigby Volvo on Chester Road, on Saturday 9 or Sunday 10 September, visit www.volvocarsevents-paulrigbybirmingham.youcanbook.me

For more on the Paul Rigby group visit www.paulrigbygroup.co.uk

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NEWS: “A glimmer of hope” at Castle Bromwich plant as JLR boss Thierry Bolloré resigns

Words & pics by Ed King

Workers at the Castle Bromwich Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) plant have expressed a “glimmer of hope” after the shock resignation of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Thierry Bolloré.

An announcement made by the JLR Executive Board, issued to workers and staff on Wednesday 16 November, told the car manufacturing giant boss ‘has today announced his resignation from the company for personal reasons’ and will be leaving on 31 December 2022.

Mr Bolloré further said how he was “immensely proud of what we have achieved at Jaguar Land Rover over the last two years” and that the “company’s transformation and acceleration towards a sustainable, profitable future as a modern luxury business is at great pace.”

It was also announced Adrian Mardell, JLR’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), would be taking over as interim CEO.

Mr Mardell has worked at JLR for over 30 years, including over a decade in post as Deputy CFO and Group Operations Controller, and has been a member of the company’s Executive Board for three years.

But despite years of uncertainly and U-turns at JLR Castle Bromwich – including a fiercely fought battle to win back a previously agreed 12.2% pay rise – on hearing the news of Mr Bolloré’s resignation, workers at the North Birmingham plant remained optimistic.

One JLR staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, told Erdington Local: “the feeling on the shop floor is… well, this might mean car production at Castle Bromwich can continue. We don’t know, but there’s a glimmer of hope now.”

Thierry Bolloré, who has worked in the automotive industry his entire career and was previously CEO of the French car brand Renault, took over as CEO of JLR on 10 September 2020.

In February 2021, Mr Bolloré presented his ‘Reimagine’ strategy for JLR – embracing the electric car market and aiming to ‘reinvent the concept of modern luxury’ for the beleaguered British car brand.

But less than two years later and the six pure electric car models outlined in the strategy are nowhere to be seen, despite initial production scheduled for 2024 and a full roll out planned for a year later.

Initiatives that were reportedly announced at JLR included the renovation of old lease vehicles for second hand sale, and the recycling of old car parts – including batteries.

Whilst CEO of Renault, Thierry Bolloré oversaw an increase in the French car brand’s ‘circular economy’ and recycling of old Renault trucks.

However, at a series of recent ‘townhall’ meetings – where JLR senior leadership teams met with workers in groups of up to 200 – these plans were underwhelmingly presented to staff.

A JLR source continued: “It just wasn’t convincing… it felt they (senior management) were just reading from a script. The buzz word around here now is ‘rethink’.”

If you work at Jaguar Land Rover or have been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this article and want to tell us your side of the story, please email: [email protected]

For more on Jaguar Land Rover visit www.jaguarlandrover.com