No Defenders or Freelanders please!

[foz.in.oz]

Just got an email saying that Land Rover have opened their first dealership in India. In it was a website address for LR India. Land Rover - India :: Home (http://www.landrover.in)
So I went to have a look and shock horror they are only peddling Range Rover, Range Rover sport and Discovery 3. No Deefers and no Freelander 2:eek::eek::eek:

Now I would have thought that India would have been an ideal market for the latter.

[Outlaw]

thats weird... maybe only the military are allowed the fender.

as for the freebie... ummm leading by example :Rolling: Sorry :angel:

[isuzurover]

From my dealings with Indians, status is of the utmost importance. I am sure there are a plenthora of cheap utilities for the "riff raff" to buy.

I think the attraction of Range/Land Rovers is so the wealthy can drive the same vehicles as the british gentry.

[dullbird]

you'll probably find they just couldn't afford to release all the models at the same time :lol2:

[clean32]

From my dealings with Indians, status is of the utmost importance. I am sure there are a plenthora of cheap utilities for the "riff raff" to buy.

I think the attraction of Range/Land Rovers is so the wealthy can drive the same vehicles as the british gentry.

yes that will be correct, what rich dude is going to pay 150K for a badge that some scummy clerk can get for 50K.

its not uncommon a number of dealers do the same in a number of countries. even Australia only gets a small sample of what is available

[isuzutoo-eh]

No Defenders? Thats because Tata are developing a new vehicle known as the Land Rover Series 1a, available in 80, 86, 88, 107 and 109" wheelbases. Difference to the series 1 of old? Runs on the smell of curry

:p :p

[lardy]

Just got an email saying that Land Rover have opened their first dealership in India. In it was a website address for LR India. Land Rover - India :: Home (http://www.landrover.in)
So I went to have a look and shock horror they are only peddling Range Rover, Range Rover sport and Discovery 3. No Deefers and no Freelander 2:eek::eek::eek:

Now I would have thought that India would have been an ideal market for the latter.

makes you proud to live in Australia don't it

[lardy]

No Defenders? Thats because Tata are developing a new vehicle known as the Land Rover Series 1a, available in 80, 86, 88, 107 and 109" wheelbases. Difference to the series 1 of old? Runs on the smell of curry

:p :p

does that mean when you go to work in the morning you have to walk because your car has delhi belly ?

[JDNSW]

Is it possible that the lack of the lower priced cars may have something to do with protection for the Indian car industry? I don't know just how it works, but I suspect that the tariff on imported cars may be more easily absorbed on the high priced models that have no real local competition, but the Freelander and Defender are unlikely to be able to compete while paying it.

John

[clean32]

Is it possible that the lack of the lower priced cars may have something to do with protection for the Indian car industry? I don't know just how it works, but I suspect that the tariff on imported cars may be more easily absorbed on the high priced models that have no real local competition, but the Freelander and Defender are unlikely to be able to compete while paying it.

John

the opposite, its Australia that hasn't got much option in cars due to import tariffs, india is a very fee market compared to the 1\2 closed doors of here.

it will be however, as posted above, Land-rovers entry into the market ( they were there before) again is as a status vehicle. Where the Name or Brand is the value more so than the actual car its self. this was the one of the big down falls of Mercedes, whose reputation was for big powerful up-market cars until the 190 now every man and his dog could get a merc.

[JDNSW]

the opposite, its Australia that hasn't got much option in cars due to import tariffs, india is a very fee market compared to the 1\2 closed doors of here.

it will be however, as posted above, Land-rovers entry into the market ( they were there before) again is as a status vehicle. Where the Name or Brand is the value more so than the actual car its self. this was the one of the big down falls of Mercedes, whose reputation was for big powerful up-market cars until the 190 now every man and his dog could get a merc.

I could not find much on the Indian car market other than the fact that it has substantial government assistance and that importers are required to establish major manufacturing in India. But did find that it is much more liberal than it was before 1991. With over 60% of the market local production, I doubt it is only price!

Australia has very low tariff protection for cars compared to most countries, and the available models here are restricted primarily by our unique design rules. For an importer to bring in a model, they need to have a reasonable chance of recovering the costs of compliance, which means selling enough to pay back this investment - which is significant even if no changes are required.

John

[clean32]

I could not find much on the Indian car market other than the fact that it has substantial government assistance and that importers are required to establish major manufacturing in India. But did find that it is much more liberal than it was before 1991. With over 60% of the market local production, I doubt it is only price!

Australia has very low tariff protection for cars compared to most countries, and the available models here are restricted primarily by our unique design rules. For an importer to bring in a model, they need to have a reasonable chance of recovering the costs of compliance, which means selling enough to pay back this investment - which is significant even if no changes are required.

John

Not quite correct, india rather than using tariffs on cars tend to use tariffs on car components. At the moment i think bumpers steel panels and drive shafts attract a very high import tariff, this is hardly what you would call helping local and cheep production. There is not extra tariffs on these or any other components in australia.
there is not restriction on imported secondhand cars ( there are some rules, left hand drive and smaller motors)
there is no restrictions on imported jeeps or landrovers.

unlike australia that has higher import restrictions on both new and second hand cars.

the unusual compliance regulations in australia are i believe used also to further restrict imports and protect the local car industry.

[Albert]

When I was in India in 2002 the import tax was 38% from memory.
I was happy to see a lot of S1 & 2's in pristine condition, very well loved.
Also in Iran I saw a lot of newish defenders with leaf springs! Whats going on there? They didnt have a Landrover badge on them that I could see.:confused:

[rick130]

<snip>
Also in Iran I saw a lot of newish defenders with leaf springs! Whats going on there? They didnt have a Landrover badge on them that I could see.:confused:

More than likely would've been Spanish Santana's.

The Persians have a real dislike for the Poms, to the point of total paranoia. ;)

[rick130]

the opposite, its Australia that hasn't got much option in cars due to import tariffs, india is a very fee market compared to the 1\2 closed doors of here.

<snip>

Actually, Australia is considered one of the worlds freest market economies overall.

Hong Kong is still ranked #1, followed by Singapore, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand.

[Chops]

I worked at the Mahindra factory in India for two weeks on auto transmissions we were supplying for their new Scorpian. Whilst there, I spotted not 1 L/R of any description. Im not sure if I understood exactly what was told to me there, but it seems only the army can be supplied with "hi/low" range vehicles, so those that you do see there are probably privately bought into the country. Not sure how this relates to their import companies of Toyota etc.
Their roads there are shocking to say the least, soft coil suspension seems to be the best because of the stop/start/dodging of potholes, earthworks, most of all other vehicles, but still an awesome trip to say the least.
Just wish I'd had my Disco there, and if I was to go back, would be trying to take it with me. They are the friendliest race of people I think I've ever met.

Cheers Chops

[JDNSW]

.....
Also in Iran I saw a lot of newish defenders with leaf springs! Whats going on there? They didnt have a Landrover badge on them that I could see.:confused:

Umm.... I seem to remember them as a local version of the Santana. They certainly do not have a Landrover licence, and I have an idea they don't have a Santana one either. I can't remember the brand, but I think they have a smallish Eastern Bloc engine made in Iran and shared with other vehicles.

John

[clean32]

When I was in India in 2002 the import tax was 38% from memory.
I was happy to see a lot of S1 & 2's in pristine condition, very well loved.
:

38% was the tariff on importing second hand cars, thats gone now.

there was never a tariff on land-rovers, second hand or new

[wally]

I spent six weeks in India in 2000 and I don't recall seeing a single Land Rover. It's mostly just Tatas, Mahindras and Ambassadors.

[isuzurover]

Also in Iran I saw a lot of newish defenders with leaf springs! Whats going on there? They didnt have a Landrover badge on them that I could see.:confused:

That would be the Santana PS10 / Iveco Massif.

Iveco Massif - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Santana Motor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Leo]

I spent six weeks in India in 2000 and I don't recall seeing a single Land Rover. It's mostly just Tatas, Mahindras and Ambassadors.

I've just been after 8 years and things have changed - new highways, foreign cars - many Skodas and other VW group stuff and, in the prosperous Punjab (North West region), quite a few Mercs and BMs. Saw a few new Range Rovers in Delhi and Mumbai. I think the RRS will do well with actors, musicians etc.

Some of the local cars are shocking - but guess they have to built to a price to make them affordable.

Doesn't seem to be much adherance to any highway code in some places, and a Defender with bull bar would be very useful.

Nice place, but huge variations in language, culture, beliefs etc across the country.