JLR looking to India to manufacture a replacement Defender
THE iconic Land Rover Defender could be set for a new lease of life in India, according to reports from the sub-continent.
The Indian media is reporting that plans are already in place for Jaguar Land Rover to set up a manufacturing operation for the Defender’s replacement, when that vehicle comes on stream, which could be 2018.
The original Defender ceased production in the UK in January after 68 years, a victim of tougher new emissions regulations.
What the vehicle would look like is uncertain as the reports refer to a “mini-version” of the Defender replacement.
Such a manufacturing operation would be a first for the company in what is, the home of its parent, Tata Motors.
While Jaguar XFs and Land Rover Freelanders have been produced in India, they are done so from knock-down kits supplied from the UK and then assembled.
The International Business Times said JLR had been holding talks with local component companies to supply the new Defender operation, which could be rolling off production lines in 2019-20.
The subsequent vehicle may also be exported to countries where there is a strong demand for SUVs, as there is in India where the roads are not of the highest quality.
The move is also no nostalgia trip for JLR – it is confining that aspect of production to a section of its Special Vehicles Operations division back in the UK.
An Indian production operation would undoubtedly boost its domestic sales, and in turn significantly raise its global figures.
Whether any existing Tata plants would be incorporated into such an operation is not known but such a move would be appealing because it would help to rein in costs.
There were thoughts that Tata would introduce a domestic JLR production operation to India when it acquired the brands from Ford in 2008. However, feasibility studies were not acted on.
Over the last eight years, the company has established its global credentials and manufacturing operations in China and Brazil are now operational with a new plant in Slovakia now under construction.
