Jaguar Land Rover Wins Coachmakers Award

Fresh of the presses from the "How Uniquely British" Dept. - Jaguar Land Rover has been honored in the UK with an “Award to Industry” from the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers of London.

The award was made based on JLR’s overall excellence, elegance in design and technology, and its contribution to commerce in the United Kingdom.

JLR executed a major turnaround in the midst of a difficult global business climate, with a growing workforce, significant product development and major investment in technological research. The company exhibits a powerful commitment to craftsmanship, supports war veterans and military personnel, and provides youth training in automotive engineering and design. All of which contributed to decision to grant the award.

Master Coachmaker, Ian Smith, called Jaguar Land Rover “a great success story, and worthy winners of the 2014 Award to Industry."

Jaguar Land Rover Design Director, Ian Callum, a Liveryman himself, said: "I am very passionate about the work of the Coachmakers and I am delighted that we have won this award. So much of what the Coachmakers stand for is also at the core of Jaguar Land Rover…elegant yet modern, distinctive yet appropriate, timeless not merely fashionable. It is better design, not more design."

The Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers began in London in 1677 under a Charter from King Charles. By the Charter, no one could lawfully carry out the trade of coachmaker or coach harness maker within 20 miles of London without being a member of the Company.

The Award to Industry was established in 1972, and Land Rover has received it once previously in 2003. This time, the Jaguar Land Rover business as a whole was awarded the honor. And a well deserved honor it is.