Jaguar Land Rover has announced plans to assemble the iconic Range Rover models in India, at the Pune plant, taking the process outside UK for the first time.
Till now, the Range Rover models were only being manufactured in Tata Motors-owned JLR's UK plant and then exported world over.
The prices of locally assembled Range Rovers are expected to significantly lower by 18-22 per cent - between Rs 1.40 crore to Rs 2.60 crore - depending on the model, after the local production. Range Rover Sport would be available for deliveries as early as August this year.
Tata Group chairman N Chandrasekaran said the manufacturing of Range Rover in India underscores the confidence JLR has in India. "The Range Rover will be manufactured right here in India is just a super feeling.. its a very very special moment and I feel proud," he said.
He added that Tata Motors would expect an increase in sales in India going forward. "We will sell more, I am very confident that it's going to be a great journey from here," he said.
JLR India MD Rajan Amba told news agency PTI that the local production is a big step, making Range Rover and Range Rover Sports accessible to a wider set of buyers from India.
"For the first time in the history of the company, the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport will also now be produced in India...this is a huge announcement for us as these are our flagship cars and have only been produced in Solihull in their 54 years long history," Amba said.
The move is indicative of the kind of market India is shaping into when it comes to premium offerings.
"This (local assembly) will allow us to take the benefit of the duty structure and to bring the price down of the two models by about 18 to 22 per cent," Amba said.
JLR India reported an 81 per cent increase in retail sales last fiscal in India at 4,436 units.
JLR said it has calibrated expansion plans for India. "Our intent is to double our business in the next three years. We will bring innovative products, leverage the Tata Group ecosystem and bring in the latest innovative products to the country," India MD Rajan Amba said.
"The products remain very premium but more in a price range where we can capture that aspiration and desire to be affiliated to the brand," Amba added.
When Moneycontrol reviewed the 2022 Range Rover: Here's the link
Jaguar Land Rover hopes local production would bring down the waiting period for the two SUVs over the next year.
With the addition of the two Range Rover models, JLR India will now be rolling out six models from the Pune factory that it shares with Tata Motors, where it assembles Range Rover Velar, Range Rover Evoque, Jaguar F-PACE and Discovery Sport.
Jaguar Land Rover has also been testing an upcoming electric Range Rover, which it plans to launch later this year.
JLR Chief Commercial Officer Lennard Hoornik sees India continuing to grow consistently in the near future, resulting in tremendous opportunities to localise products.
Range Rover's local manufacturing is a big step for the brand to consolidate as the most desirable modern luxury SUV family, Hoornik said.
Range Rover MD Geraldine Ingham said retail sales in India have surged and the local manufacturing will address this growing demand. JLR currently has an installed production capacity of around 10,000 units per annum at the plant.
With inputs from PTI
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