15 April 2020
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A total of 312 vehicles (as of April 9) have now been deployed globally by JLR to support emergency response organisations during the coronavirus crisis...
... And in terms of the UK specifically, 210 vehicles, including 27 new Defenders, have been supplied to British Red Cross and other frontline services, which will help provide practical support such as medicine and food deliveries, and patient transport to those needing to get to and from hospital.
Elsewhere 90 Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles are supporting the Red Cross Societies and other frontline services in Australia, South Africa, Canada, Russia, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Belgium and Belux, Germany and The Netherlands. This service is being provided with fleets of vehicles now available due to the postponement of launch events, including the UK press launch of the new Defender, although our editor did manage to squeeze in a short test drive before lockdown came in (see the June issue of LRM).
JLR is also working closely with the UK government and has offered its research and engineering expertise, as well as digital engineering and design, printing of 3D models and prototypes, machine learning, artificial intelligence and data science support. It has already started production and delivery of NHS-approved protective visors with the ambition to produce 5000 a week in the UK.
Finbar Mcfall, JLR Customer Experience Director said: “JLR will do everything we can to support people in need around the world. Our partnership with the Red Cross goes back 65 years and we will work hand in hand JLR and Minnie Dlamini feeding SA together Jaguar Land Rover deploys global fleet in fight against coronavirus with them to do all we can during this global health emergency. We will also provide help to those closer to home in our local communities. We can all play a part in helping the vulnerable during this global pandemic.”
By providing vehicles to enable practical support and the innovation of their designers and engineers to keep NHS stay safe and protected, JLR have played a pivotal role in the fight against COVID-19.
We were also very touched to hear that employees at Solihull gave £17,000 to help local charities cope with coronavirus. Donations will support the NSPCC’s Childline and Age UK, helping thousands of vulnerable children and elderly people in Britain. JLR aside, it’s heartening to see how many car manufacturers around the world have been lending their assistance.
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