Drone pilot reinforces JLR’s priorities for 'Reimagine' strategy
With a drone pilot the latest development in JLR’s 'Reimagine' strategy for digitalisation and modernisation, key figures at JLR have shared what this and other digitalisation projects could mean for the automaker in the near future.
In early December 2025, JLR unveiled a pilot project which has seen the use of Flyability’s Elios 3 drone to carry out machinery and site checks at its Electric Propulsion Manufacturing Centre in Wolverhampton.
The trial saw inspection time drop from four hours to just 10 minutes in what JLR project engineer Shantnu Mehta described as “a major leap in operational efficiency”. He explained that this drastic reduction in time spent on checks has allowed the team at the Wolverhampton facility to “redeploy skilled teams to higher-value tasks and keep production lines running smoothly with minimal disruption”.
He added that, as drones reduce the need for people to work at height or in confined spaces, the deployment of drone technology has advantages in terms of safety, as well as providing consistent, high-resolution visuals that enhance inspection accuracy without compromising safety.
“Drones will help us shift from reactive to predictive maintenance, reduce manual workloads and enhance safety,” Mehta told Automotive Logistics. “They’re a key enabler of smarter, more agile supply chain operations.”
How does JLR’s drone pilot fit within its broader Reimagine strategy?
JLR announced its Remagine strategy in February 2021, aiming to deliver modern luxury through sustainability, digital innovation and agility. As Mehta described it, it’s a “roadmap for transforming JLR into a more resilient, future-focused business”.
From a supply chain and logistics perspective, key focuses have been technology adoption, enhancements to supply chain visibility, investment in talent development and building resilience.
Accelerating technology, connectivity and automation across processes was a key expectation of Paulina Chmielarz, digital innovation director for industrial operations at JLR, when she was appointed to her current role in August 2023 – from cloud systems to business process automation to product lifecycle management.
Speaking to Automotive Logistics on the Red Sofa at ALSC Digital Strategies Europe in December 2024, Chmielarz said: “Our fundamental transformations are well underway, and big progress has been made in the PLM and SAP space, so this journey will continue.”
She added: “We are now in a stage where we have strategic initiatives which complement those big platforms or advanced usage of them, and we also have a very big piece of work right now with all our data products, so [we are] really advancing those things – we are, I would say, somewhere in the middle of our journey.”
An important “strategic piece” of JLR’s digitalisation journey has been carefully looking at the experience of its employees with the digitalisation being brought in. Its ‘Revive’ strategy focused on improving the quality of adoption of digital technologies and the experience of the workforce to “make it much more effective after deployment [and ensure that] people actually use it to their benefit and they feel comfortable with all this new technology”.
The remains an important consideration for JLR, with training playing a crucial role in its drone trial. “Engineers receive hands-on training in drone piloting, safety protocols and data capture,” Mehta stated. “The process is designed to be accessible and scalable, ensuring teams can confidently operate and maintain the technology.”
He described upskilling as “essential” as new technologies such as drones and AI take on a larger role within the supply chain, adding: “As we integrate more advanced technologies, we’re committed to ensuring our people evolve with them, building a future-ready workforce that’s empowered to lead innovation.”
Key implementation challenges
By their very nature, every pilot programme will inevitably encounter obstacles. For JLR, integrating drone data into existing systems and ensuring regulatory compliance were key considerations that had to be made before the trial could get properly underway. "Building trust in autonomous inspections also takes time, but early results have been very encouraging," added Mehta.
Where next?
Despite the fact that the use of drone technology is still being piloted in Wolverhampton, JLR has already announced that the next step of the trial will see drones being used to automate inventory checks at its Logistics Operations Centre in Solihull.
"The Wolverhampton pilot has shown clear benefits in speed, safety, and data quality," explained Mehta. "These results give us the confidence to expand and explore broader applications across industrial operations."
Why now?
Drones have been in use for inventory checks as well as machinery and site inspections since the 2010s, so one might wonder why now is the right time for JLR to introduce drones into its manufacturing and logistics centres. According to Mehta, that's because the technology has matured, and "advances in autonomy, safety and data analytics now allow drones to deliver real, measurable value".
More innovation to come at JLR
The drone pilot is part of JLR’s £3.8 billion annual investment into industrial transformation, new products and technology, which is being explored through its 'Open Innovation' programme. Launched in 2022, this initiative has engaged with over 2,500 start‑ups globally, resulting in 36 formal collaborations to date.
Outside of the drone trial, Mehta noted that – through the Open Innovation programme – JLR is exploring AI-driven logistics, digital twins and sustainable materials. “Expect more collaborations and pilots that push boundaries and accelerate our transformation journey,” he said.
