Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is developing an SUV based on a hydrogen fuel cell platform, according to an announcement from the UK government. The hydrogen SUV program, known as Project ZEUS, is part of a £73.5 million (AU$132.2M) UK government initiative to develop low emission vehicles. Project ZEUS stands for 'zero and low-emissions vehicles in urban society'.

Jaguar Land Rover has confirmed its CEO Ralf Speth will step down from the role when his contract expires in September 2020. He will remain with the company, though, staying on as non-executive vice chairman, and keeping his seat on the board of Tata Sons. The German engineer has been in charge of the British luxury car maker since 2010, taking over not long after Tata bought the automaker from Ford in the middle of 2008.

Land Rover is said to be readying a three-pronged family of Defender-inspired models, set for launch in the next five years. According to a report from Autocar, the British brand is preparing to build off the anticipation and hype around its new Defender with two new models on either side: an entry-level vehicle and a flagship offering.

It’s no secret Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has been having some troubles lately. Even in the light of slowing sales, poor financial results, and Brexit uncertainty, however, corporate parent Tata Motors is sticking with the British brands. Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Motors’s holding company Tata Sons Ltd, told Bloomberg that Jaguar Land Rover isn’t for sale, pushing back on reports the Indian conglomerate was planning on selling the British brands.

Some automakers are abandoning their British operations, but Jaguar Land Rover is redoubling its commitment to its motherland. The Indian-owned company has cut the ribbon at an expansion of its facilities at Gaydon, which cost £500 million (A$912 million).