New Land Rover Defender to be built in India: report

By Brett Davis | January 27th, 2012

The Land Rover Defender has long been an icon of the British auto industry, being designed and built in the country. Now under Tata ownership, production of the next-generation Defender is set to take place in India.

Not due until 2015, the all-new Defender will apparently be built in Pune, India. In a recent interview with Autocar, Tata chairman Ratan Tata revealed moving production to India would cut costs and in turn keep purchase prices down.

Shifting production to India would also keep it close to key Asia-Pacific markets where the new model is expected to sell especially well, however it is believed some models could be shipped to Europe for final assembly.

The production facilities in Pune are set to build the upcoming Tata Aria SUV. According to the report the next Defender will share much of its major platform dimensions with the Tata so that it can share a similar production line, further saving costs.

As for the specifications and design of the 2015 Defender, it is believed the design will be inspired by the DC100 concepts first unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show, while the vehicle will sit on a full frame chassis with the body bonded on top.

A likely choice for the chassis is a revised version of the current T5 platform which underpins the Discovery and the Range Rover Sport. The new model is expected showcase vast improvements over the current model, both dynamically and on the comfort and equipment front.

Henry Toussaint

This ‘could’ lead to poor Quality, but I doubt it. It also may give it a 4 Star Saftey Rating….but i don’t know that yet….

Atul

Mate ,suzuki Alto made in India selling here also India got VW,Toyota,Mercedes benz,GM,Ford,Range Rover,Fiat,BMW,Skoda,Audi,Renault,Nissan and peugeot manufacterin plant not Import like us ,they build cars same as International Quality,also Tata and Mahindra are their local car manufactuer company.

Henry Toussaint

Ohh ok!
Bikerbear1

Nothing from India is of serious quality. You will get what you pay for cheap made cars by an unskilled workforce paid slave wages

DGS

My experiance of Landrover Build Quality (IKEA car) make me think that it would be suprising if the Indians manage to do a worse job of it than the British. My father and Grandfather both have owned several landrovers each starting in the 1950′s, I like them but have not brought one as I prefer my cars to arrive in one piece and not require constant reassembely from new – I am not sure if Landrover has yet found a way to keep oil from leaking from the engine, every other manufacturer seems to have developed some top secret technology decades ago that keeps the driveway clear of a pool of oil.

In short – Indian made Landrovers may be just as good or even better than the current ones. I may yet consider one.

Phil

Yes British car quality has traditionally been terrible as has their motoring technology.

For technology check out a 2004 Discovery V8. With 4.0 (British) petrol engine and a awful 16.7/100km ADR consumption rate, you’d expect excellent performance. No, you only get 136KW/340NM and a 0-100km/h time of 12.8 secs!
Going for the TD5 diesel won’t help either, despite a Turbo intercooled engine, you only get 101KW and the 0-100km/h time blows out to 17.8 secs.

Yeesh and the reliability…..best thing to happen to them was having Ford’s far better quality control and technology put into them. Now with Indian owners, Land Rover couldn’t possibly be any worse then they were when they were all British owned.
Ibc

Yeah, I think that the Indians will put the oil on the other side – the inside!
Bikerbear1

So what’s you experience of them you have never owned one .

DAVIDZ

Now when u break down and phone the 1 800 customer service #, its the same place as they are screwing it together, in culcatta!
wont be any worse than uk
Tarquin, Hair Artiste

Can I order mine with an in dash shrine? Id much prefer a factory item compared to aftermarket on this option. On a serous note, well done Tata… They are doing a great job so far with Jag and Land Rover. Making the Defender in India makes sense and I believe will result in a superior product.

Bikerbear1

No it won’t ,it will damage the brand
Bikerbear1

Don’t think Tata will have it for long after posting huge losses at Tata steel ,China is the new India cheap to manufacture and cheap labour don’t be surprised if it ends up in Chinese hands

http://www.facebook.com/people/Derek-Brooke/1155415069 Derek Brooke

It could not be possible for the Indians to produce a worst
vehicle than the current defender, it’s absolutely abysmal the current model

Sievester

I want a a real 4WD with 3500kg towing, solid axles on coils, a 1 ton payload and is highly configurable. The Defender offers this.

If you want 7 cup holders and climate control well yeah by a Kluger or something.
Bikerbear1

Do you own one or are you just one of the many who can’t afford own so you just rubbish it
Bikerbear1

Do you own one I do I bought it 1 year ago and have had not a single problem with it ,typical of someone who does not own or can’t afford something is to try to rubbish it

Bj57

Can’t get any worse!
shane

Everything TATA has done for Land rover so far has been very positive, Just look at the
growing sales figures! Im sure this product will be good, as the current defender is
nothing like the rest of the Land Rover & Range Rover models.

Bikerbear1

Quality comes at a price and sorry to say India does not have the skilled work force to build this. Other thing is people like this as its a Uk built icon ,ship it to India and that will damage the brand

Bikerbear1

My god I hope this is not the new defender it looks cheap nasty . I bought the 2011 defender 90 built in the UK I honestly won’t replace it with this monstrosity .it will end the brand and will finish up as a cheap Indian car
Bikerbear1

This won’t be built it is nothing like a defender it’s like a cheap Asian suv