Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
JLR says winter testing brought engineers, hotel spending and EV trials to International Falls
Summary
JLR site manager Ron Sutherland told the KEDA board that winter testing brought 57 visiting engineers, about $70,000 in hotel spending and more than $30,000 in restaurant revenue to the area, and described expanded EV charging and local hiring tied to the program.
Ron Sutherland, site engineering manager for JLR, told the KEDA board the company’s cold-weather testing season was busy and financially important for the local economy. “We had a fairly busy winter up here this year,” Sutherland said, reporting 57 visiting engineers with an average stay of about eight days and more than $70,000 in hotel spending and over $30,000 in restaurants during the season.
Sutherland described vehicle testing that included new Jaguar and Range Rover electric models and a JLR electric test car that logged about 16,000 miles this winter. He said the on-site charger installation by Kennedy Electric is complete and JLR is waiting on Minnesota Power to finish final connections. “Chargers installed now. We’re just waiting for Minnesota Power to do the final connections,” Sutherland said.
The manager detailed charger performance and limits: the site charger will be capable of up to 450 kilowatts and can charge multiple cars quickly, which Sutherland said would cut charge times to roughly 20 minutes when operating at full capacity. He contrasted that with an existing downtown charger that he said is 50 kilowatts and takes roughly three and a half hours per vehicle when unused by others.
Sutherland also flagged ongoing operational and facility needs. He told the board the oldest cold chambers and their controllers date to 2012 and run legacy systems, calling for controller upgrades and noting roof and drainage concerns around the shop. He said JLR is reviewing small infrastructure improvements — ceiling fans, additional power drops, LED lighting and automated door closures — that could reduce energy use and maintenance issues.
The presentation included an operational note on a major corporate IT incident that Sutherland said delayed programs. “That hack has cost the company over $2,000,000,000, and the amounts are still climbing,” he said, attributing the figure to company reporting.
Board members and staff thanked Sutherland for the update and for JLR’s partnership, noting local hiring tied to testing activity and the broader economic benefits to hotels, restaurants and contracted electricians. The board did not take formal action; Sutherland said JLR would continue discussions with staff about contract extensions and site improvements as the group prepares for next season.
