Jaguar is ending a 20-year relationship with Timmins by moving its cold-weather testing facility to Manitoba.
Ford Motor Co., the parent company of the British automaker, plans to move Jaguar testing to Thompson, Man., where all Ford products are tested. Land Rover, another Ford company that tested in Timmins, had previously moved to Thompson.
City officials were not sure how many locals will be affected by the move, but a number of Timmins residents do test-drive vehicles. The car maker also spent millions in the community for meals and accommodations.
Jaguar's departure leaves Toyota as the only other automaker running a winter test program with a facility on city-owned land on Texas Gulf Highway. The city and Timmins Economic Development Corp. continue to work on developing a modern testing facility and have fielded inquiries from auto and parts manufacturers on possible opportunities.
