Jaguar will withdraw i-Pace next year from all-electric line-up

In contrast to prior statements, Jaguar will not extend the lifeline of the pioneering i-Pace when its new line of EVs leaves the factory halls in 2025. In the wake of its all-electric and top luxury haul-over, the company further announced that it will hire 300 new workforce in the Midlands.

Asked about the future of the all-electric i-Pace, former CEO of Jaguar-Land Rover Thierry Bolloré stated that reworked versions and a second generation were being considered. But the new CEO Adrian Mardell has told British car journal Autocar that the model will retire before the new generation electric Jaguars arrive. The company is preparing for a fresh start.

Own platform

That resurrection is existential, as the British premium car maker is lifting its image. In the future, with only zero-emission models in the range, it no longer seeks to rival the German brands but aims to compete with Bentley and Aston Martin. As part of that strategy, the brand will not build upon the MLA architecture, from which the first all-electric models from Land Rover’s sister brand will spawn.

Mardell said that Jaguar needs its own modular structure to cope with “exuberant” dimensions. He refers to an extended wheelbase necessary to underpin the fluent lines of the high-end Jaguars of the next generations.

The i-Pace isn’t affiliated with that change of heart so it will be abandoned before the relaunch. The gap in between will be held as short as possible. The first Jaguar of this new dawn is scheduled for the first half of 2025, meaning the i-Pace will be killed off before the end of next year.

Class action suit

Despite pioneering in the EV class as the first true contender to Tesla, which was quite an achievement for a small player like JLR, the sporty cross-over never rose to commercial fame. This was due to its steep price and underwhelming range.

While the model was mainly sold in the European mainland to tackle stricter CO2 regulations, the availability in the United States led to more worries, coming from teething problems for early adopters in the electric category, like Jaguar. Jaguar North America is facing a class action lawsuit concerning battery fires.

Recruiting for the next phase

More than 6 000 vehicles were recalled earlier this year to address problems with overheating packs. These are sourced from LG Chem, held liable for similar issues with faulty packs on the Chevrolet Bolt and Hyundai Kona Electric, and forced to settle for billion-dollar claims with both manufacturers. Meanwhile, overseas used car prices of the i-Pace have crumbled.

To gear up for its new chapter, set for 2025, JLR is hiring 300 new workforces to develop its following range of EVs and the growing Range Rover production. The recruited profiles are technicians and testing engineers to support Solihull’s new body production systems.

But two hundred of them will be stationed in Whitley at the Engineering Centre, where the future generation EVs are currently under development. A four-door GT from Jaguar and a Range Rover BEV are the highest on the agenda.