The company feels the vendors and suppliers have matured with respect to quality of components and this has only helped JLR to produce the Defender in India.
Advertisement
Presently, JLR imports kits and assembles luxury saloons at its Pune facility. It will serve as the key for improving company’s profitability as it will enable the company to play in volume segment globally.
Once it passes techno-commercial feasibility tests, the auto will be built in the Pune plant of JLR’s parent company, Tata Motors.
Dunmurrycomponent casting specialist Montupet has seen off an worldwide challenge to secure the contract for a new cylinder head for the global automotive market from Jaguar Land Rover.
“Unlike the past, the discussion is now being led out of the (JLR) HQ in the UK”.
Also, the quality and cost of components which the company would need has been discussed with the vendors by a small team of engineer with a quotation for the potential manufacturing of 50,000 units a year.
“India is absolutely of interest to us”. “I am sure India will eventually grow big like China”. But, given the surge in the demand of SUVs over the past few years in India, it might just be the right time to bring in a mini version of the legendary 4X4 here. The project is yet to be finalised, but “the probabilities of Land Rover making vehicles locally are high”, said a person associated with the company. The Indian version of the Defender from JLR will cater to the SUV loving customers in the country.
Advertisement
JLR, which competes with German Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW in the luxury-car market, has its products positioned largely at the higher end. With regular investments of 3.5-3.75 billion pounds every year, the company has emphasised on developing new products as well as fresh capacity.
