Thread: No Defenders or Freelanders please!

Originally Posted by JDNSW

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.

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.

Originally Posted by Albert

<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.

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

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

Originally Posted by clean32

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.

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

Originally Posted by Albert

.....
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.

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

Originally Posted by 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.
:

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

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

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.