International Automotive Components (IAC) has opened a new site in the United Kingdom which will supply Jaguar Land Rover's (JLR) site in Halewood (United Kingdom), reports the Liverpool Echo. The 75,000-square-foot facility will be located adjacent to an existing 75,000-square-foot IAC site in Boulevard Industry Park.
Significance: IAC supplies interior components to the automaker which manufactures the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque. IAC's fortunes are mirroring those of JLR's, which has significantly increased in production during the last five or so years. Indeed, IAC has said that it has increased its number of UK employees from approximately 700 in 2007 to more than 2,200 in 2015. The opening of a new factory in Birmingham (United Kingdom) has also lifted the number of employees. Robert S. "Steve" Miller, president and chief executive of IAC Group said, "The addition of these new manufacturing and engineering facilities substantially reinforces our ability to serve customers in this region, but also extends our global footprint." It remains to be seen whether IAC's current capacity will be able to meet expected demands, which IHS Automotive expects to grow from just over 500,000 units in 2015 – having stood at below 160,000 units during 2009 – to over 600,000 units during 2020.
