JLR is preparing to unveil its first electric car in a move that will put it on course to gatecrash the motor industry’s green revolution.

The Tata-owned UK-based manufacturer is understood to be eager to enter the growing market, as well as reduce its emissions footprint to avoid punitive green taxes.

It is thought the new electric vehicle – expected to be in the “crossover” segment, where a car and an SUV meet – could be revealed as soon as this week, with the Los Angeles motor show seen by some as a likely venue.

JLR is Britain’s biggest carmaker, with more than 500,000 vehicles rolling off its production lines in the UK a year, 80pc of which are exported.

The manufacturer’s predicted entrance into electric cars is likely to be from its Jaguar marque, following the success of its F-Pace crossover.