Fresh from setting a new world land speed record using hydrogen power,
JCB has announced major investments in UK and US manufacturing while reporting a resilient financial performance for 2025.
The Staffordshire-based manufacturer is investing £100 million in the transformation of its world headquarters in Rocester and opening a new $1 billion factory in San Antonio, Texas, next month. The US facility, which will be JCB's largest factory worldwide, is expected to create 1,500 jobs over the next five years.
The company has also announced a significant leadership development, with George Bamford becoming Joint Chairman alongside his father, Lord Bamford. It marks the first change at the top of the family-owned business in more than 50 years.
JCB reported turnover of £5.7 billion for 2025, with profit before tax reaching £642 million. Machine sales totalled 113,498 units and the company remained debt-free. Despite flat demand in North America and a 12% contraction in the Indian market, JCB increased its global market share during the year.
A central element of the company's UK investment programme is the modernisation of its Staffordshire headquarters, which has been JCB's home since 1950. The project includes a £60 million fully automated powder paint plant and extensive shopfloor upgrades designed to secure the future of more than 8,000 UK jobs.
Across the Atlantic, the new one-million-square-foot Texas factory will manufacture Loadall telescopic handlers and access equipment for the North American market, the world's largest construction equipment sector.
Alongside factory investment, JCB continues to develop hydrogen technology following a £100 million programme to create hydrogen combustion engines. The company says it is the first construction equipment manufacturer to bring a fully approved hydrogen-fuelled combustion engine to market, with hydrogen-powered machines now entering production.
The technology recently achieved international attention at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, where the JCB Hydromax established a new hydrogen land speed record. Driven by Wing Commander Andy Green OBE, the vehicle reached 406.320mph (653.909km/h), more than doubling the previous hydrogen combustion record and surpassing JCB's Dieselmax diesel-powered record set two decades ago.
The Hydromax was powered by two production-based hydrogen engines built at JCB's Foston facility in Derbyshire. The project progressed from concept to world record in just 18 months.
JCB is also continuing to invest in engineering skills through the JCB Academy. The academy received 708 applications for 314 places starting this September and has educated around 3,750 students since opening in 2010. According to the company, all leavers have progressed into employment or further education. This month, JCB also welcomed 116 new apprentices, undergraduates and graduates selected from more than 6,300 applicants.
Lord Bamford said: "Last year JCB celebrated its 80th birthday and, as we look ahead, we are investing heavily in the future of the business, from the transformation of our Staffordshire headquarters and pioneering hydrogen technology to our new factory in Texas.
"As part of that next chapter, I'm delighted that my son George will become Joint Chairman of JCB. We have never been a company that stands still and these investments will ensure JCB is well placed to seize the opportunities ahead."
George Bamford added: "From the day my grandfather founded JCB in 1945, innovation and investment in Great Britain has been at the heart of everything we do. JCB Hydromax showed the world what British engineering can achieve.
"While JCB has expanded globally over the years, our home has always been here, and the record investment we are making in our facilities and new products is good news for Britain and good news for JCB."
JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald said mixed global market conditions had made 2025 more challenging, but described the company's overall performance as robust.
"Machine sales were down by around five per cent, but turnover remained broadly stable due to a more favourable market and product mix," he said. "Despite nil market growth in North America and a 12% market contraction in India, we increased our global market share during 2025, which is an encouraging result.
"The overall outlook for 2026 is for moderate growth despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and, with new capacity coming on stream in Texas and Staffordshire, we are well placed to take advantage of it."
Pic: Lord Bamford with his son George who joins him as Joint Chairman