JLR to expand work with disabled people

Jaguar Land Rover has committed to doing more research with disabled people to help future vehicles better meet their needs.

The pledge comes as the company signs up to become a member of the Valuable 500, an international organisation founded by campaigner and social entrepreneur Caroline Casey, who is legally blind.

The Valuable 500 aims to unlock the value of people living with disabilities across the world by placing disability inclusion at the top of business leadership agendas.

"We are proud to join The Valuable 500 because Jaguar Land Rover understands the importance of making our business and our products more inclusive. We are committed to creating experiences people love, for life – and that absolutely includes disabled people," professor sir Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover CEO says.

“It’s why we have been the presenting partner of the Invictus Games for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women since it began in 2014. Everyone at Jaguar Land Rover is hugely passionate about that and now we pledge to do even more through the Valuable 500.” 

Jaguar Land Rover will increase the amount of research it conducts with disabled people under the Valuable 500 pledge.

For example, engineers have already tested a prototype ‘mobility door’ that opens automatically as the driver approaches – technology that could help disabled people for whom a car is the main mode of transport.    

 “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Jaguar Land Rover as the first automotive company to sign up to the Valuable 500, the first of a number of global automotive firms who will this year join our movement in creating leadership accountability that will take a definitive stand on disability inclusion in business," says Caroline Casey, founder of the Valuable 500, pictured above on the right.

“We need things to change and the way to do that is to have business leadership and to remove the barriers for people with disabilities and their families to be valuable customers, suppliers, employees and members of the community. I greatly respect Jaguar Land Rover’s commitment to this journey of continuous improvement.

“We would also love to see other industry sectors focus on this huge opportunity and join the Valuable 500 to end disability exclusion in business once and for all.”