**History and Ownership Transitions:**
– Land Rover brand evolved from a 1948 utilitarian 4WD vehicle.
– Range Rover introduced in 1970, followed by Discovery and Freelander models.
– Land Rover Limited formed in 1978, becoming a separate entity under BL in 1988.
– Acquired by BMW in 1994, then sold to Ford in 2000.
– Tata Motors acquired Jaguar Land Rover in 2008 for £1.7 billion.
**Manufacturing and Global Sales:**
– Land Rover cars manufactured in plants across five countries.
– UK plants produce Range Rover, Discovery Sport, and more.
– Global sales peaked at 385,000 units in 2014/15 but declined to 320,000 units in 2018/19.
– Europe, the UK, and China are primary markets.
– Discovery Sport is the top-selling model.
**Military Use and Engine Evolution:**
– Land Rover developed models for UK and Australian armies.
– Various engines used, evolving from 1,600cc to V8 and diesel options.
– Military adaptations include blackout lights and heavy-duty suspension.
– Models like the 101 Forward Control and Lightweight designed for military use.
**Innovation in Technology and Capabilities:**
– Land Rover introduced ERAD technology and hybrid prototypes.
– Continual improvement in engine technology and efficiency.
– Land Rover’s abilities include power take-off features and diverse body styles.
– Used for applications like fire engines and ambulances, with special adaptations like amphibious versions.
**Brand Extensions and Miscellaneous Facts:**
– Land Rover endorsed hand-made bicycles and established the Land Rover Coffee company.
– Licensed Pegasus to produce Land Rover ATP pushchairs.
– Land Rover clubs exist globally, with a focus on specific models and themed vehicles.
– Notable events include the creation of the Land Rover Owner email list and the formation of internal clubs under Ford ownership.
Land Rover is a British brand of predominantly four-wheel drive, off-road capable vehicles, owned by multinational car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), since 2008 a subsidiary of India's Tata Motors. JLR currently builds Land Rovers in Brazil, China, India, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom. The Land Rover name was created in 1948 by the Rover Company for a utilitarian 4WD off-road vehicle; currently, the Land Rover range consists solely of upmarket and luxury sport utility vehicles.
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| Product type | Automobiles, Luxury vehicles |
|---|---|
| Owner | Jaguar Land Rover (since 2013) |
| Produced by | Jaguar Land Rover |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Introduced | 1948 |
| Related brands | Jaguar |
| Markets | Worldwide |
| Previous owners |
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| Tagline | "Above & Beyond" |
| Website | landrover.com |
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| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | British Leyland |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | British Leyland |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Fate | Car manufacturing merged with Jaguar Cars in 2013 as Jaguar Land Rover |
| Headquarters | Solihull, West Midlands (1978–2012) |
| Parent |
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Land Rover was granted a Royal Warrant by King George VI in 1951, and 50 years later, in 2001, it received a Queen's Award for Enterprise for outstanding contribution to international trade. Over time, Land Rover grew into its own brand (and for a while also a company), encompassing a consistently growing range of four-wheel drive, off-road capable models. Starting with the much more upmarket 1970 Range Rover, and subsequent introductions of the mid-range Discovery and entry-level Freelander line (in 1989 and 1997), as well as the 1990 Land Rover Defender refresh, the marque today includes two models of Discovery, four distinct models of Range Rover, and after a three-year hiatus, a second generation of Defenders have gone into production for the 2020 model year – in short or long wheelbase, as before.
For half a century (from the original 1948 model, through 1997, when the Freelander was introduced), Land Rovers and Range Rovers exclusively relied on their trademark boxed-section vehicle frames. Land Rover used boxed frames in a direct product bloodline until the termination of the original Defender in 2016; and their last body-on-frame model was replaced by a monocoque with the third generation Discovery in 2017. Since then all Land Rovers and Range Rovers have a unified body and frame structure.
Since 2010, Land Rover has also introduced two-wheel drive variants, both of the Freelander, and of the Evoque, after having built exclusively 4WD cars for 62 years. The 2WD Freelander has been succeeded by a 2WD Discovery Sport, available in some markets.