The new factory marks the carmaker’s first wholly owned manufacturing plant outside of the UK as well as the first time a UK automotive group has opened a production centre in Latin America.

The plant will build Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport for the local market.

JRL said the plant forms the next phase in its global expansion strategy following the opening of its Chinese joint venture factory in 2014.

Wolfgang Stadler, executive director, manufacturing, said: “Land Rover is already Brazil’s market-leader for mid-sized premium SUVs, accounting for more than 30% of all sales in that segment. The Range Rover Evoque and the Land Rover Discovery Sport will now be manufactured for the first time in Latin America, building on their existing popularity with customers in Brazil.”

Jaguar Land Rover has had a presence in the Brazilian market for more than 25 years. In the first five months of 2016, it saw sales increase by 11% in Brazil. Jaguar is one of the country’s fastest growing premium brands with sales increasing by 70% in the first five months of 2016.