Magna International to produce electric platform for JLR, pick-up conversions in US

Canadian automotive manufacturer Magna International is looking to produce an electric vehicle platform for Jaguar and Land Rover's next-gen models, according to reports.

As reported by Automotive News, a job ad on LinkedIn was found to offer applicants the chance to "work closely with JLR, Jaguar and Magna" on an "outsourced engineering service relationship", with the electric vehicle platform internally known as Panthera.

JLR already has a working relationship with Magna, as Jaguar's sole EV offering, the I-Pace, is currently constructed by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, a subsidiary of the Canadian company.

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Jaguar's 2022 I-Pace

While it's understood construction of the platform will be outsourced, its design will come from within JLR, with CEO Thierry Bolloré saying creating a bespoke platform would be crucial to the brand's move to become fully-electric from 2025.

“Concerning a new Jaguar, we're making unique proportion a priority. That’s the reason why at the moment we do it by ourselves,” Bolloré said at the time.

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Magna isn't just working with JLR to produce electrified vehicles, with Automotive News also reporting the manufacturer has developed electric powertrain systems for former internal combustion engine-powered pick-up trucks.

Known as EtelligentForce, the system replaces an ICE-powered vehicle's driveline, with an electric motor on the front axle and an 'eBeam' electrified beam axle at the rear, complete with an electric locking differential.

The system allows some of the existing hardware components such as brakes and suspension to be retained, but without the traditional internal combustion engine, with the manufacturer claiming a number of American OEMs are interested despite Ford, Chevrolet and Ram all introducing bespoke electric pick-ups.

American electric vehicle upstart Fisker is also set to have its upcoming Ocean model manufactured by Magna Steyr.