Pune: Two iconic models of the Range Rover—Range Rover and Range Rover Sport—will cost over ₹50 lakh less than the current market price in India, once the company, Jaguar Land Rover India (JLR India), starts delivering the locally made vehicles from August this year.
JLR India managing director Rajan Amba said this in conversation with a financial newspaper recently. He said that it will be for the first time in the company’s 54-year-long history that the iconic models will be manufactured in any country other than the UK. Currently, these marquee models are manufactured only in Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull plant in the UK and then exported to around 121 countries, including India, for marketing.
Officials of JLR India said that they had upgraded and enhanced the production capacity of JLR manufacturing facilities at its Pune plant to ensure production of around 10,000 units per annum. Currently, Pune plant is manufacturing models like Range Rover Velar, Range Rover Evoque, Jaguar F-PACE and Discovery Sport. “We will soon commence production of Range Rover and Range Rover Sport to maintain the delivery deadline of August this year,” said another officer.
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A top officer of the JLR India said that cost of the two iconic models is likely to come down by 18-20% if they are produced locally. “Various models are being assembled at our Pune facility from completely knocked-down (CKD) kits,” he said.
Tata Group chairman N Chandrasekaran had recently praised Ratan Tata for bringing the JLR brand to the Tata family 15 years ago. “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, adding that the company would be able to scale up sales once these models are made locally.
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It has been estimated that the price of domestically produced Range Rover 3.0 diesel HSE will come down to ₹2.36 crore, from the existing ₹2.81 crore. Similarly, 3.0 petrol Autobiography will cost ₹2.6 crore, from the existing price tag of ₹3.16 crore. The Range Rover Sport 3.0 diesel Dynamic SE and 3.0 petrol Dynamic SE will now cost ₹1.4 crore, against the earlier ₹1.69 crore.
The JLR India MD said that Solihull would remain the home for Range Rover’s upcoming fully-electric model, as well as the pinnacle ‘SV’ vehicles.
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The JLR India decided to expand the manufacturing capacity of its Pune plant particularly in view of growing demand of its vehicles in India. There has been an 81% increase in retail sales of the Range Rover models in the last fiscal. JLR India has sold 4,436 units in the 2023-24 fiscal.
JLR India chief commercial officer Lennard Hoornik said that the company is poised to grow in future, as India has witnessed steady economic growth. “This growth has resulted in tremendous opportunities to localise product offerings for the discerning Indian clientele. Local manufacturing of the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport in India is the next significant step towards the brand consolidating its position as the most desirable modern luxury SUV family in the country,” Hoornik said.
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The chief commercial officer said that the company would maintain the exemplary British design, aesthetic grace and technological sophistication in manufacturing of Range Rover for the Indian clients, for which the brand in know for.
Range Rover managing director Geraldine Ingham asserted that retail sales of Range Rovers in India has gone up to 160% in the FY 2024. “Local manufacturing of the Range Rover will help the company to cater to growing demand among discerning clients and celebrated personalities across the country. JLR India reported an 81% increase in retail sales last fiscal in India at 4,436 units.”
