Jaguar-Land Rover acquisition complete: Tata

[discomaniac]

Jaguar-Land Rover acquisition complete: Tata - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/03/2263127.htm)

So it looks like the transaction is complete. The above link was just posted on a news site. Wonder what changes we'll see, if any???

Discomaniac

[JDNSW]

Jaguar-Land Rover acquisition complete: Tata - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/03/2263127.htm)

So it looks like the transaction is complete. The above link was just posted on a news site. Wonder what changes we'll see, if any???

Discomaniac

Judging from what Tata have said during the process, not a lot of change in the near future, but I would expect in perhaps the next six months some indication as to where the company is going, for example with the Defender. But any substantive change is going to take quite a while - don't forget that both current models and agreements with Ford have locked them in to using Ford engines for about five years, so any change in lineup will take time.

Of course, there could be changes in emphasis in this time, for example (although don't hold your breath) a push to market the Defender for both military and utility markets rather than as a lifestyle vehicle, together with a big increase in production, probably with a second production line in India.

John

[PAT303]

Tata have said that they want to make the defender the first choice for ag,military,mines etc.I wouldn't be supprised if the Indian army start taking them in numbers to replace the jeep knock-off they have now.There is doom and gloom in some circles but I think Tata will take LR forward.Toyota fans pay out on it but they forget that quite alot of tojo's come from Thailand and most of thier parts are made there to.I think it is a good thing. Pat

[Davo]

Well, considering where the company has been headed with the Defender so far, unless they make it even harder to get and harder to fix with even less dealers around any changes should be good!

[Lotz-A-Landies]

It does seem that Ford have sorted out most of the problems with the Discovery 3, the Range Rover and the Freelander with some very satisfied customers in the last few years.

The Defender is another story, last week we were at Trivett Classic in Paramatta, one of the bigger LR dealerships and in the forecourt there was a Defender 110.

One wouldn't believe that in 2008 the quality control would allow you to see daylight through the bottom door seal when the door was closed, but that was the case. Then we have our friend "Cape Landy" in South Africa where they didn't fit any of the seals to the rear body.

I am sure that Tata can't do any worse, and although military contracts may not make the trim any better, they will ensure that there is a defender that will hold up to the rigors of military service and therefore the harsh Aussie environment.

Let us hope that comes along with more dealerships.

Diana