Jaguar Land Rover regional technical centre ‘The Academy’

Luxury automotive manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover is proud to announce the establishment and launch of a new Technical and Training Centre, strategically located in Dubai Investment Park offering access to Jebel Ali Port and the new Al Maktoum International Airport.

The new facility, dubbed ‘The Academy’, was officially opened on 3rd August 2010 by Bob Joyce, Group Engineering Director, Jaguar Land Rover.

The Academy serves as a regional training hub for Jaguar Land Rover MENA delivering technical training programmes to its entire dealership network in 19 markets across the Middle East and North Africa region, as well as Pakistan. The facility will ensure technicians across the network will be trained to elite global standards aligned with Jaguar and Land Rover’s own engineers.

“As part of our desire to ensure the best service and quality across our markets, the facility will deliver best practice standards that align with our global benchmark, and that in turn will give our discerning customers the best possible experience. The establishment of the facility in Dubai is a clear indication of the level of investment and Jaguar Land Rover’s commitment to this region from customer satisfaction to technical excellence,” explains Robin Colgan, Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa region.

The centre will also be home to the Regional Testing Facility, allowing Jaguar and Land Rover hot weather and desert terrain testing for new and future vehicles. The Academy’s Testing Facility will temporarily house the Range Rover Evoque, which was unveiled last month at an exclusive event to celebrate Range Rover’s 40th anniversary in London’s Kensington Palace.

The Evoque, the all-new compact Range Rover which will be the smallest, lightest and most fuel efficient Range Rover ever produced, will undergo vigorous testing at the new Dubai facility for global and regional markets to monitor and enhance performance for extreme weather and off-road conditions.

Meanwhile, The Academy will be headed by John Winchester, Manager – Engineering Operations MENA, who will oversee technical training courses at the new facility, with support from Jaguar and Land Rover HQ in the UK as well as the regional Jaguar Land Rover MENA office to further develop regional dealership network expertise.

“This is a fantastic opportunity and a strong statement of intent to ensure that the region is fully empowered and capable to deliver best-in-class service that mirrors the quality of our vehicles, and I am proud to be undertaking this challenge,” explained John Winchester.