Jaguar and Land Rover in talks on cooperative Chinese deal

Jaguar and Land Rover are in talks with a top Chinese maker of 4X4 vehicles about forming a Chinese joint venture.

Reports today said the companies, now owned by India's Tata Motors, were holding discussions with Great Wall Motor Co about a possible deal.

The chairman of Great Wall, Wei Jianjun, met with top brass from Jaguar and Land Rover during their recent tour of China, said the second executive.

If it manages to pull off a deal, it could help secure more jobs at the two marques' operations in the Midlands as the companies share design and manufacturing knowhow and Great Wall's access to the Chinese market.

"The two companies are exploring opportunities for a cooperative effort. Senior executives of Jaguar and Land Rover came over and visited our plant earlier this month," a Great Wall executive said.

"It's fair to say that contacts between the two parties have already passed the initial stage, but no final decision has been reached so far," a second executive with direct knowledge of the talks told Reuters.