Jaguar Land Rover will offer electric options across its range of sleek sedans and upscale SUVs as the tradition-rich British carmaker pivots toward electric vehicles under pressure from the UK and other governments.<\/p>\n
By 2020, the entire range of Jaguar cars and Land Rover sport utility vehicles will be available in fully electric, plug-in hybrid and so-called mild hybrid variants, chief executive officer Ralf Speth said Thursday in a Bloomberg Television interview with Manus Cranny and Anna Edwards.<\/p>\n
Underscoring its electric shift, Jaguar will start selling the I-PACE battery-powered performance SUV next year. The company has 25,000 orders for the vehicle already, Speth said.<\/p>\n
Authorities in France and the UK outlined plans in July to ban the sale of diesel and gasoline cars by 2040 as a means to reduce air pollution and carbon-dioxide emissions, which are linked to global warming.<\/p>\n
The move is less aggressive than plans by Volvo Car Group. The Swedish brand intends to offer only hybrid or battery versions of its new models as of 2019.<\/p>\n
The hybrid autos reduce fuel burn by being able to drive short distances or boost performance with the help of electric motors.<\/p>\n
To showcase the UK carmaker\u2019s intent, Speth is unveiling designs for a battery version of Jaguar\u2019s iconic E-Type roadster at the Tata Motors division\u2019s annual tech fair in London.<\/p>\n
Jaguar Land Rover is also presenting a concept for a voice-activated, detachable steering wheel. Dubbed the Sayer, after E-Type designer Malcolm Sayer, the device is part of a futuristic vision in which cars will be used interchangeably with consumers taking personalized steering devices with them.<\/p>\n