Jaguar Land Rover plans to sell only electric, hybrid car models from 2020

Indian auto giant Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover on Thursday made it clear that all its new car models will be electrified from the year 2020.

The luxury brand, acquired by the Indian automotive giant nine years ago, unveiled plans for a range of fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles in the coming years.

"Every new Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) model line will be electrified from 2020, giving our customers even more choice. We will introduce a portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles,"Dr. Ralf Speth, JLR Chief Executive Officer, revealed at the inaugural Tech Fest in London.

"Our first fully electric performance SUV, the Jaguar I- PACE, goes on sale next year," he said. It has not set any timeline for a move away from petrol entirely as yet

The company also presented the Jaguar Future-Type as a vision for the car of 2040 and beyond. "The fully autonomous virtual concept explores mobility for the connected world of tomorrow, where vehicles could be shared not owned," JLR said. It includes Sayer, the first voice-activated artificial intelligence (AI) steering wheel that will be able to carry out hundreds of tasks.

"The advanced speech recognition software will allow it to answer your questions, connect you to the news, organise your travel and select your entertainment. Sayer knows what'sin your fridge and can even order your shopping or a pizza. You will never run out of milk again. It will be your go-todevice," JLR claims.

JLR's first-ever Tech Fest, open to the public at Central Saint Martins in London from Friday until Sunday, is based on the theme of "Technology with Heart".
It is marked by a series of debates and discussions on the future of mobility and technology?and includes a live challenge to test potential JLR recruits? technical ability,logical-thinking, and memory.

As part of a tie-up with award-winning virtual band Gorillaz, successful players will be first in the queue for a chance to work at JLR. The event is packed with innovative exhibits and interactive displays to demonstrate how technology is being used to make a positive difference.

Some of the aspects included the "Waste to Wave" surfboard project as an example of a number of innovative recycling initiatives which give a second life to materials previously destined for landfill.

JLR also demonstrated its "Autonomous Urban Drive" research technology, which can enable a vehicle to operate without a driver through a city, obeying traffic lights as well as negotiating T-junctions and roundabouts, already in use in its Range Rover Sport model.

The "Night Time Sun" installation, a collaboration between several artists, uses solar lamps from JLR's "Lighting Up Lives" project to harness the sun?s power to transform lives.        

Working with Climate Care, the company is working on providing clean, safe, renewable solar-powered lamps to families in Kenya, giving up to four hours of additional light every evening. The company said it plans to light up the lives of 1.2 million people by 2020 as part of the project.