Yet again Landrover products are being used to prop up a failing brand. Ford have announced 1000 job losses at Solihull as production of the Freelander is going to be moved to the Halewood Jaguar plant which has failed to reach capacity making cars that people do not want to buy. Even if you don't think the Freelander is a "proper" Land Rover and doesn't deserve to be built at Solihull this is still bad news as investment will fall in this plant and once the "family" is broken up there will be no reason not to build Defenders in South Africa and Disco's in Dagenham. When will car makers ever learn that there is more to brand heritage than a badge?
Twas Mon, 21 Jul 2003 17:14:42 +0100 when "giles evans" put finger to keyboard producing:
Dang fools the lot of 'em!
-- Regards. Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.) ___________________________________________________________ "To know the character of a man, give him anonymity" - Mr.Nice.
Disco's will continue to be built at Solihull, along with any other T5 products. Defenders have been built in South Africa for years - the factory ship out the bits as CKD kits.
How many Freelander customers care whether their car is built in Solihull or Halewood? I personally am much more interested in the quality of the product and the purchase cost.
In common with most of the majors, Ford have real problems with the very outdated nature of many of their plants when compared to the greenfield plants of Nissan, Toyota etc. It is very difficult to produce a truly efficient plant when you have to work around existing buildings, transport links and manufacturing of other products.
In the long run this may turn out to be good news for the quality of the product, as it means that it can be built in a purpose-created facility, rather than one bolted onto existing infrastructure and working practices.
You are right though - it does create a very ominous precedent for Solihull once their 'heartland' is diluted. How long can Jaguar justify the cost of having Brown's Lane now that their cars are built everywhere else? Mind you, how many other manufacturers build all their cars in one place? I'm struggling to think of any major ones.
Tim Hobbs
'58 Series 2 '77 101FC Ambulance '95 Discovery V8i
But does it really matter where they're built ? So long as it's still in UK ????
Let's face it, the existing quality control leaves a lot to be desired so why not let another workforce have a go at producing something worthwhile. Don't get me wrong, I love Landrovers and all that goes with them, but I've been on the production lines many times (I was part of Georges Renault team that built part of the new RR production line facility) and while some parts are bang up to date, there are still areas that run on antiquated machinery that should have been replaced years ago ..
I have just purchased a new Defender 130 Crew cab it was manufactured in South Africa it has a S.A compliance plate on it and it goes really well. I have no complaints at all about the machine or its reliability.
Which is much more than I can say about a previous Defender 110 that was produced at Lode Lane, the clutch burnt out in 3 days because the pedal had not been adjusted properly, I had a new alternator fitted at 6000km, a new rear diff at 70000km and a new transfer box at 120000km along with a new rear door at 10000km along with numerous other bits and pieces that fell off from time to time. It was a 98 model and built by British labour in a British factory. They don't deserve to have jobs in a wreckers yard let alone in a manufacturing plant.
Despite all the above I have recently purchased 2 new TD5 a 110 Extreme and the
130, and both are going like a dream. I am extremely happy with both vehicles, one of which was manufactured in the UK and the other in SA. I don't believe it matters where a vehicle is manufactured so long as there is proper quality control. and world class workmanship.
Gord> Yet again Landrover products are being used to prop up a failing brand. Ford
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