Ericsson’s Private 5G Powering JLR’s Smart Manufacturing Ambitions

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Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is stepping up its digital transformation with the rollout of Ericsson’s Private 5G network at its Solihull manufacturing plant. This move marks a big stride towards Industry 4.0, giving the company the secure, low-latency connectivity needed to run a new generation of intelligent production systems.

The Solihull site, where Range Rover vehicles are built, has already seen major investment over recent years. Now, with Ericsson’s Private 5G in place, JLR is taking its manufacturing operations to another level. The company’s mission to “cut the copper” is all about moving away from fixed wired connections towards a more flexible and reconfigurable wireless setup. That means production lines can be adjusted in seconds rather than weeks, making the entire process far more agile.

Ericsson’s Private 5G supports a range of technologies central to modern manufacturing. Advanced vision systems, IoT sensors, precision tools and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) all rely on reliable, real-time data transmission. The network also underpins data analytics platforms such as Litmus, helping engineers and managers make quick, evidence-based decisions on the factory floor.

Early feedback from the Solihull plant has been positive, with improved connectivity already delivering measurable efficiency gains. Teams are using live data and simulations to fine-tune production, while the ability to swap or reconfigure connected tools on the fly is helping to minimise downtime. It’s a good example of how private 5G can turn data insights into operational improvements, bringing tangible benefits to day-to-day manufacturing.

The deployment was carried out in partnership with Fujitsu, combining Ericsson’s 5G expertise with Fujitsu’s IT and systems integration experience to create a full end-to-end private 5G solution. It’s also part of the West Midlands 5G Innovation Regions initiative, funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to boost the uptake of advanced wireless technologies in industry.

Following the success of the Solihull deployment, JLR plans to explore similar private 5G setups at other sites. By embracing high-performance wireless networking, the company is building a foundation for smarter, safer, and more sustainable manufacturing. It’s another step towards the connected factory of the future, where flexibility, automation and data-driven decision-making go hand in hand.

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