Pretty sure our Defenders are not built like this VW production line

[spudboy]

Amazing VW factory in Dresden. If only LR could screw a Defender together like these guys:

YouTube - VW Factory - Germany

Anyone got any video of the Defender production lines?

[isuzurover]

That's pretty funky, but then again, most car plants in germany are.

This is the main BMW plant:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/08/1109.jpg

Where we lived, we used to regularly see prototype merc sedans being road tested.

[solmanic]

And then at the other end of the technology food chain is the Trabant assembly line...

YouTube - Trabant Quality Control

[carjunkieanon]

Wow. Wonder how much it adds to the cost?

Defenders are made in a muddy paddock by guys in gumboots with dogs sitting under the car.

r

[mark2]

To build a Defender with a robot would require a complete redesign of the body - or alternatively, a quantum leap forward in robotics.......

[Grockle]

Wow. Wonder how much it adds to the cost?

Defenders are made in a muddy paddock by guys in gumboots with dogs sitting under the car.

r


They don't allow dogs in the factory since the Puma came out, they also concreted the floor,to make it a sterile enviroment for the paint to dry without bits of gravel sticking to it.

[rovercare]

Wow, never had much to do with VW, but after the old lady getting a new golf and Vern's new van, I can say, they're pretty impressive well built things:)

[dickyjoe]

Ive heard a story of when the Berlin Wall came down, there was a smoke haze from the 2stroke Trabants crossing the wall that it lasted for 3 days.

I have also heard they were the worst car ever built for emissions.

The VW plant is super impressive. Innovative thinking, the tram, mag guideance, body screw that flips out of the floor. But you just don't get that hand built feeling like you do when you buy a Trabant.

[PAT303]

Wow, never had much to do with VW, but after the old lady getting a new golf and Vern's new van, I can say, they're pretty impressive well built things:)

We've had tons of them in my family,IMHO only Audi are better built.I had one for 10 years and the doors still closed like a bank vault when I had to sell it.My only wish is VW buying LR. Pat

[flagg]

The English heritage may make it more like this:

YouTube - TRIUMPH ROCKET III - 21ST CENTURY MOTORCYCLE MANUFACTURE

[Lotz-A-Landies]

They don't allow dogs in the factory since the Puma came out, they also concreted the floor,to make it a sterile enviroment for the paint to dry without bits of gravel sticking to it.
I don't think that's true, they didn't use concrete they just rolled out some astro-turf carpet so the dog thought it was still grass. The dogs were needed the herd the pumas into the Defenders, as they all wanted to go towards the transit van in the carpark.

As for the quantums and robotics comment - Ho Hum

[Grockle]

I don't think that's true, they didn't use concrete they just rolled out some astro-turf carpet so the dog thought it was still grass. The dogs were needed the herd the pumas into the Defenders, as they all wanted to go towards the transit van in the carpark.

As for the quantums and robotics comment - Ho Hum

It is concrete I saw the mixer trucks there,the dogs are already in the transit camp prior to dispatch export labels on them.

[lardy]

i reckon the late defender will be fondly remembered because whatever it is replaced with won't be made in the same way (bits will still fall off !) but i reckon to make it cost effective it wont be what we know and love.
look where they place defender in this ad from the u.k. it's like they are trying to squeeze it out of our subconscious :mad:

[mark2]

i reckon the late defender will be fondly remembered because whatever it is replaced with won't be made in the same way (bits will still fall off !) but i reckon to make it cost effective it wont be what we know and love.
look where they place defender in this ad from the u.k. it's like they are trying to squeeze it out of our subconscious :mad:

If production is ever transferred to India, lower labour rates might keep the current design sustainable. Besides, the Indians seem to have a thing for keeping otherwise obsolete designs in production - An Indian collegue at work showed me a glossy brochure for a Royal Enfield the other day. A month ago at the show, I saw a brand new Indian made version of my 1964 B414 tractor.