The iconic Range Rover by JLR is now rolling off the manufacturing line at Tata Motors’ Pune plant

In May 2024, the sleepy little coastal town of Alibaug in Maharashtra was the centre of attention as Range Rover House made an appearance for the first time on Indian shores. Since 2022, over 40 Range Rover Houses have run across 20+ countries in the world’s most desirable locations, from Sydney’s sparkling harbour to Abu Dhabi’s white sandy beaches, to the dazzling glamour of the French Riviera, and now, a luxury villa in Alibaug on the lush Konkan coast.

The grand debut of the Indian Range Rover House was significant for more than one reason. At the idyllic getaway, the leadership team — N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons; Rajan Amba, Managing Director, JLR India; Geraldine Ingham, Managing Director, Range Rover, and Lennard Hoornik, Chief Commercial Officer, JLR — gathered to announce a very special milestone: Range Rover and Range Rover Sport would now be locally manufactured in India. This is the first time in the brand’s 54-year history that its flagship luxury sports utility vehicles will be produced outside its Solihull plant in the UK, from where it has, so far, been exporting to 121 global markets, including India.

This strategy comes in the wake of a surge in sales in India — 160% for Range Rover and 70% for Range Rover Sport — in FY24. “Across the globe, we are seeing the highest levels of client demand for Range Rover in our 54-year history,” said Ms Ingham at the event. “India is a very important part of this success story.” Indeed, 80% of the company’s India order book comprises Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Defender.

From left to right: Lennard Hoornik, Chief Commercial Officer, JLR; Geraldine Ingham, Managing Director, Range Rover; Rajan Amba, Managing Director, JLR India, and N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, at the launch of the Indian Range Rover House in Alibaug

The India opportunity

This isn’t the first time JLR is manufacturing in India — it has been manufacturing its Evoque, Velar, Discover Sport and Jaguar F-Pace models in the country since 2011 — but it is a first for Range Rover’s two flagship models. “The Indian market has exhibited several promising indicators that led us to bring Range Rover production to the country,” says Mr Amba. “Over the last three years we have seen a 3X growth in the JLR India business, and over the next three years we expect to double the business from here. The local manufacturing of our flagship models, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, is a significant lever to unlock this potential and ambition.”

In FY24, JLR reported ₹4,000 crore in revenue from the Indian market, with total sales at 4,500 units, and 31% year-on-year growth in the first quarter of FY25. “The country’s strong economic growth has resulted in increased purchasing power,” says Mr Amba. “With a GDP growth between 7% to 8% over the last few years, India is targeted to be the third largest economy over the next five years. Another promising indicator is the growing HNI population, leading to a significant surge in demand for luxury goods, which is estimated to reach 1.5 million in the next five years.” According to a Knight Frank report, India’s HNI population, with asset value of $1 million+, is expected to increase from 7.9 lakh (2022) to 16.5 lakh by 2027 — a 107% increase.

Manufacturing excellence 

The JLR factory in Pune, Maharashtra, now manufactures six models — Range Rover Velar, Range Rover Evoque, Discovery Sport, Jaguar F-Pace, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport — across two manufacturing lines with a total capacity of 10,000 annually over two shifts. The plant, which operates under a contract manufacturing agreement with Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, has a dedicated facility both for engine and vehicle manufacturing and has been designed and set up as per JLR’s global manufacturing operating processes. In fact, the plant reports to the Operations Director of the Solihull plant in the UK — the company’s flagship plant and the home of Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. Additionally, JLR next-gen vehicles will also be produced at Tata Motors’ ₹9,000 crore greenfield manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu.

“There is a huge opportunity for growth in the luxury car market share from the current 1% (and 50,000 units per year) of the total passenger vehicle industry, with the likelihood of it doubling in the next five years with rising wealth and aspirations of the new age Indian consumer,” says Mr Amba. “We have the potential to capture a significant share of the growing luxury market on the back of strong brand equity and a world-class product portfolio in India as visible in recent sales trends. By manufacturing in India, we are well-positioned to capitalise on these trends and strengthen our market presence. Deliveries for these two models have already started. The Range Rover rolled off the line in mid-May and the Range Rover Sport in mid-August.” https://www.tata.com/

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