Land Rover denies Indian assembly rumour

Land Rover has moved to quell rumours that it is doing a deal to establish a kit assembly base in India, and in doing so setting up a distribution system within the subcontinent entirely unconnected with Tata Motors, the outfit that’s about to assume ownership of the company.A story in The Times of India quoting Land Rover global sales director John Stretton has caused a stir by suggesting that, after receiving a large order from the Indian military, LR is in the process of establishing an Indian hub for the assembly of between 1000 and 7000 Defenders from kit form.Autocar put this to Land Rover. In response, it issued the following statement: “Land Rover regularly attends defence equipment exhibitions in order to showcase vehicles with a view to generating orders. DEFEXPO in New Delhi (where this story originated) is one of the major shows in the industry and Land Rover was exhibiting a range of Defenders.”“We supply vehicles to 100 armies around the world and are in global competition with other military vehicle manufacturers. We do not discuss potential contracts or partnerships. However, contrary to reports in certain Indian publications, Land Rover does not have plans to start manufacturing cars in India.”Land Rover already has kit assembly hubs like the one proposed in Turkey and Pakistan. A Land Rover spokesman told us, however, that no deal for the supply of Defenders to the Indian forces had been finalised.