Employees at Jaguar's Castle Bromwich plant have celebrated producing their newest XF model - destined for one of the world's most important markets.

The first 12MY Jaguar XF rolled off the production line on Wednesday and will soon be on a ship bound for a customer in China.

More than 500 employees gathered to celebrate the start of production of the new XF with the Choy Lay Fut Lion Chinese dance troupe.

Grant McPherson, Plant Director at Castle Bromwich, said: "The outstanding quality and efficiency achieved by the manufacturing team has been a key factor in the success of the Jaguar XF since it launched in 2008, so we wanted to mark the production of this first, Chinese, car in a special way.

"The whole team at Castle Bromwich is extremely proud to have played a significant role in making the Jaguar XF such a global success."

The 12MY XF boasts advanced new technologies and fresh styling. Drawing on the latest Jaguar design language applied to the XJ, the new XF features an all-new look to the front end with slim new headlight units set into which are distinctive LED lighting strips sitting either side of a larger, more upright grille.

China is Jaguar Land Rover's third largest market and more than 40,000 vehicles will be sold here this year. Jaguar sales in China are up by 46 per cent (Jaguar - May 2011 compared to 2010).