Jaguar is not letting it happen again.
Jaguar Land Rover, like so many others, was almost wholly defenseless when semiconductors began to dry up due to shifts in consumer demands, the pandemic, and many factors we won't get into here.
However, "fool me once," as they say, and Jaguar Land Rover seems to ascribe to that turn of phrase.
The British manufacturer recently announced a partnership with Wolfspeed Inc to supply silicon carbide semiconductors for Jaguar's next generation of electric vehicles, including models like the next-generation Jaguar I-Pace and Range Rover EV.
Jaguar Land Rover has been laying plans for some time. JLR recently started work on its Halewood, UK factory as part of its Reimagine Strategy- the EV shift that'll make or break it. That plan includes "a journey to carbon net zero by 2039."
More specifically, these Wolfspeed chips will be used in JLR vehicle's inverters. These manage the power transfer from the battery to the car's electric motors. Evidently, that's a vital part of an electric vehicle. No inverter means no forward momentum, and with full order books, the company can't afford more stoppages.
Things are going great for Land Rover, but Jaguar will only have its next-generation models ready by 2025. That's a long wait, and we hope consumers still remember the brand by then.
JLR already has confidence in Wolfspeed. It works with the company on Jag's Formula E cars. The group has also invested in its in-car tech through a partnership with NVIDIA, bolstering the company's automated driving systems.
The partnership will allow JLR to exert greater control over its supply chain, which is key to the company's new approach under the Reimagine Strategy. We're hoping that Jaguar Land Rover will use this new level of oversight to begin cleaning up its supply chain.
Polestar recently called out several automakers for climate inaction, and massive shifts in strategy for brands like JLR present an excellent opportunity to ensure a cleaner, more climate-friendly supply chain.
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