Just in March this year, Malaysia saw the launch of the eye-catching all-electric Jaguar I-Pace. However, despite the I-Pace being the marque’s bridging model to full electrification, it has been confirmed that the I-Pace will be discontinued by 2025, along with the rest of the models that are currently on Jaguar’s shelves, reported Autocar.
JLR’s ex-premier Thierry Bolloré’ once suggested that the Jaguar I-Pace would be made “better and better”, and perhaps be succeeded by a second generation down the road, along with the rest of the brand’s current models. However, the firm’s present CEO Adrian Mardell has confirmed to Autocar that this suggestion will not turn into a reality.
Jaguar has yet to confirm the discontinuation dates for the I-Pace and its other models, as it is waiting for and determining a strategic date to launch its new range of “refreshed” products, which have been said to be ultra-luxury cars with price tags exceeding the £100,000 (approx. RM589,359) mark. Thus far, the carmaker has quoted that its new-era car will be sitting on the marque’s bespoke JEA electric architecture, and is planned to be revealed in late 2024, and launched the year after.
Mardell said, “We don’t want the product to be out of the market for too long, particularly the electrified Jaguar I-Pace. Now we’re waiting for the confidence in JEA. Right now, people are telling me it’s going to be in the first half of 2025. That’s just under two years away. I’d be more confident in that response when we’re nine to 12 months away.”
“So we’ve got time – we’ve got nine to 12 months – to work through these decisions”, he added.
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Mardell said that the Jaguar I-Pace is currently sold mainly in markets such as the UK and mainland Europe. This is to help ensure the company is compliant with emissions targets. The CEO also added that the new upcoming model has been a big help in the development of Jaguar’s other EVs. And thanks to the I-Pace programme, the carmaker now “understands how to develop them”.
Jaguar aims to produce around 4,000 units of the upcoming line-up every month, which is lesser than what it used to produce. Its new production target also undercuts the sales figures of JLR’s other line-ups such as Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, which both sold approximately 5,600 and 4,700 cars respectively each month.
Jaguar’s choice of utilising the JEA bespoke architecture for its upcoming lineup will also be larger than the modular MLA architecture which has been underpinning JLR’s current largest models, as well as the upcoming Range Rover EV which should be seeing its official launch in 2024. This is done to allow for its upcoming model’s “exuberant” proportions, the company said.
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