Editing Land Rover (section)

== History ==
Originally, these vehicles were simply called the 'Land Rover' – an [[Off-road vehicle|off-road capable]] car model of the [[Rover Company]]. As 'Land Rover' became established as a [[brand]], the 'Series' indication later became a [[retronym]] [[Car model|model name]].<ref>E.g: Series I, Series II, Series IIA.</ref> The [[Range Rover Classic|Range Rover]] was introduced in 1970, and the company became a British Leyland subsidiary in 1978. In 1983 and 1984, the long and the short wheelbase Land Rovers were given official names – the One Ten, and the Ninety respectively. Together they were badged the [[Land Rover Defender|Defender models]] in 1990, after the 1989 introduction of the new [[Land Rover Discovery|Discovery]] model.

=== Rover era ===
[[File:Land Rover Celebrates 65 Years Of Technology & Innovation (8838044808).jpg|thumb|Series I first registered January 1949<br>"HUE166 first production Land-Rover"<br>portraits of Spencer and Maurice Wilks]]
[[File:LandRoverIIALWB.jpg|thumb|Series IIA long-wheelbase]]
[[File:Andy's Landrover - Dash (2708153690).jpg|thumb|Series IIA dashboard]]
[[File:2016-08-12 Veicolo per incendi boschivi Cascina.jpg|thumb|Land Rover conversion to fight forest fires, [[Cascina]], Italy (August 2016)]]
The design for the original vehicle was started in 1947 by [[Maurice Wilks]]. Wilks, chief designer at the [[Rover Company]], on his farm in [[Newborough, Anglesey]], worked in conjunction with his brother [[Spencer Wilks|Spencer]] who was the managing director of Rover.<ref name=dt_20080328>{{cite news |title=Land Rover: The sands of time |first=Kevin |last=Hackett |date=28 March 2008 |newspaper=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/2751397/Land-Rover-The-sands-of-time.html |access-date=18 August 2019 |archive-date=28 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328143157/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/2751397/Land-Rover-The-sands-of-time.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The design may have been influenced by the [[Bantam GP|Jeep]]<ref>{{cite book|quote=The first Land-Rover owed a lot to the Jeep. Designer Gordon Bashford, who laid out the basic concept, makes no secret of that. It was also his job to go off to an ex-WD surplus vehicle dump in the Cotswolds, buy a couple of roadworthy Jeeps... |title=The Rover Story |first=Graham |last=Robson |year=1981 |page=87 |publisher=Stephens |isbn=978-0-85059-543-7 }}</ref> and the prototype, later nicknamed [[Centre Steer]], was built on a Jeep chassis and axles.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y5qVKiNkvAcC&q=First+Land+Rover+built+on+a+Jeep+chassis&pg=PA111 |page=111 |title=Illustrated Encyclopedia of Extraordinary Automobiles |first=Giles |last=Chapman |publisher=DK Publishing |year=2009 |isbn=9780756649807 |access-date=18 August 2019 |archive-date=22 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222053123/https://books.google.com/books?id=Y5qVKiNkvAcC&q=First+Land+Rover+built+on+a+Jeep+chassis&pg=PA111#v=snippet&q=First%20Land%20Rover%20built%20on%20a%20Jeep%20chassis&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> The early choice of colour was dictated by [[military surplus]] supplies of aircraft cockpit paint, so early vehicles only came in various shades of light green. Starting with the series I Land Rover, all models in this era featured sturdy [[Vehicle frame#Boxed|box-section]] ladder-frame chassis.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.whichcar.com.au/reviews/land-rover-history| title = Land Rover History – WhichCar.com| date = 27 January 2016| access-date = 8 August 2020| archive-date = 8 August 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200808120715/https://www.whichcar.com.au/reviews/land-rover-history| url-status = live}}</ref> Early vehicles like the [[Land Rover Series#Series I|Series I]] were field-tested at Long Bennington and designed to be field-serviced.

After the formation of Land Rover Limited in 1978 the hyphen in Land-Rover – as shown in the logo – began to be dropped.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=XI18AwAAQBAJ&dq=Land-rover&pg=PT386 James Taylor. ''Land Rover: 65 Years of the 4&nbsp;×&nbsp;4 Workhorse''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528161156/https://books.google.com/books?id=XI18AwAAQBAJ&dq=Land-rover&pg=PT386 |date=28 May 2023 }}. Crowood Press, UK, 2013. {{ISBN|9781847975287}}</ref>

=== Land Rover Ltd – subsidiary of BL ===
Land Rover as a company has existed since 1978. Prior to this, it was a product line of the Rover Company, which was absorbed into the Rover-Triumph division of the [[British Leyland Motor Corporation]] (BL) following [[Leyland Motor Corporation]]'s takeover of Rover in 1967. The ongoing commercial success of the original Land Rover series models and the Range Rover in the 1970s, in the midst of BL's well-documented business troubles, prompted the establishment of a separate Land Rover company under the BL umbrella, remaining part of the subsequent [[Rover Group]] in 1988 under the ownership of [[British Aerospace]], after British Leyland was broken up and privatised.

=== BMW era ===
On 31 January 1994, [[Rover Group|Rover Group plc]], including Land Rover, was acquired by [[BMW]]. In 2000, Rover Group was broken up by BMW and Land Rover was sold on to [[Ford Motor Company]], becoming part of its [[Premier Automotive Group]]. The transition to BMW ownership only just preceded the introduction of the second generation [[Range Rover (P38A)|Range Rover]], prior to launching Land Rover's first [[unibody]] model, the [[Land Rover Freelander|Freelander]] in 1997. BMW was then responsible for much of the development of the [[Range Rover (L322)|Range Rover III]] – the first to have a monocoque structure and [[Car suspension|independent suspension]], introduced under Ford in late 2001.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.landrover.com/explore-land-rover/onelife/heritage/range-rover-history.html| title = Range Rover: A History - Featured Articles – Land Rover| access-date = 8 August 2020| archive-date = 30 October 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201030042131/https://www.landrover.com/explore-land-rover/onelife/heritage/range-rover-history.html| url-status = live}}</ref>

=== Ford era ===
After the introduction of the all-new Range Rover in 2001, Ford moved Land Rover further away from its traditional boxed ladder-frames, by introducing a [[Land Rover Discovery#Discovery 3 / LR3 (2004–2009)|new generation Discovery]] featuring "Integrated Body Frame", in 2004. From then on, only the Defender continued on Land Rover's traditional since 1948 underpinnings. Use of the [[Rover V8 engine]] in Land Rovers also ended with the replacement of the mk. II Discovery.

In 2006 Ford also purchased the [[Rover (marque)|Rover brand]] from BMW for around £6 million. BMW had retained ownership of the brand to protect the integrity of the Land Rover brand, with which 'Rover' might be confused in the US  –  market, and allowed it to be used under licence by [[MG Rover]] until it collapsed in 2005, at which point it was offered to the Ford Motor Company, who by then owned Land Rover. On 11 June 2007, Ford announced that it planned to sell Land Rover along with [[Jaguar Cars]]. Private equity firms such as [[Alchemy Partners]] of the UK, [[TPG Capital]], [[Ripplewood Holdings]], [[Cerberus Capital Management]] and [[One Equity Partners]] of the US, [[Tata Motors]] of India and a consortium comprising [[Mahindra & Mahindra]] of India and [[Apollo Management]] all initially expressed interest in purchasing the [[marque]]s from the Ford Motor Company.<ref name="From Archive.org-6375467">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/08/24/afx4052453.html |title=India's Tata confirms interest in Land Rover, Jaguar |work=forbes.com |date=24 August 2007 |access-date=18 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071208072836/http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/08/24/afx4052453.html |archive-date=8 December 2007 |url-status=dead |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |agency=AFX News Limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article3307647.ece |title=Tata in pole position to buy Jaguar and Land Rover marques from Ford |access-date=4 January 2008 |date=4 January 2008 |last=Clark |first=Nick |work=The Independent |location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105014035/http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article3307647.ece |archive-date=5 January 2008}}</ref> On 1 January 2008, Ford formally declared that Tata was the preferred bidder.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1699920,00.html |title=Indian Company Top Bidder for Jaguar |access-date=4 January 2008 |date=3 January 2008 |agency=Associated Press |last=Krisher |first=Tom |magazine=Time |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106094214/http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1699920,00.html |archive-date=6 January 2008}}</ref> On 26 March 2008, Ford announced that it had agreed to sell its Jaguar and Land Rover operations to Tata Motors, and that it expected to complete the sale by the end of the second quarter of 2008.<ref name="ford_20080326"/>

=== Tata Motors era ===
On 18 January 2008, Tata Motors, a part of the [[Tata Group]], established [[Jaguar Land Rover|Jaguar Land Rover Limited]] as a British-registered and wholly owned subsidiary. The new company was to be used as a holding company for the acquisition of the two businesses from Ford – Jaguar Cars Limited and Land Rover. That acquisition was completed on 2 June 2008 at a cost of £1.7&nbsp;billion.<ref name="r_20080602">{{cite news |title=Tata Motors completes acquisition of Jag, Land Rover |date=2 June 2008 |publisher=Thomson Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSBMA00084220080602 |access-date=2 June 2008 |archive-date=29 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229000957/http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSBMA00084220080602 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080630/FREE/940478590/1528/newsletter01 |title=On U.S. tour, Mr. Tata gives Jaguar and Rover dealers a hug: AutoWeek Magazine |publisher=Autoweek.com |access-date=4 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117204002/http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080630%2FFREE%2F940478590%2F1528%2Fnewsletter01 |archive-date=17 January 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="BBCJagJobs">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8121056.stm|work=BBC News|title=Jobs warning at Jaguar Land Rover|date=26 June 2009|access-date=26 June 2009|archive-date=15 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515121456/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8121056.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=jlrar2010-2011>{{cite web|title=2010/2011 Annual Report|url=https://b.jcms-api.com/download/9e562e87-04c0-418f-8931-a2b9a27e28e7/20102011annualreport.pdf|publisher=Jaguar Land Rover PLC|pages=5|access-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126065823/https://b.jcms-api.com/download/9e562e87-04c0-418f-8931-a2b9a27e28e7/20102011annualreport.pdf|archive-date=2018-01-26|url-status=live}}</ref> Included in the deal to buy Land Rover and Jaguar Cars were the rights to three other British brands: the [[Daimler Company|Daimler marque]], as well as two dormant brands [[Lanchester Motor Company|Lanchester]] and Rover.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leftlanenews.com/5-for-2-special-tata-acquires-3-other-british-marques-in-jaguar-land-rover-deal.html#more-6922 |title=5 for 2 special: Tata acquires 3 other British marques in Jaguar, Land Rover deal |publisher=Leftlane News |date=28 March 2008 |access-date=28 March 2008 |archive-date=5 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305034339/http://www.leftlanenews.com/5-for-2-special-tata-acquires-3-other-british-marques-in-jaguar-land-rover-deal.html#more-6922 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 1 January 2013, the group, which had been operating as two separate companies (Jaguar Cars Limited and Land Rover), although on an integrated basis, underwent a fundamental restructuring. The parent company was renamed to Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC, Jaguar Cars Limited was renamed to Jaguar Land Rover Limited and the assets (excluding certain Chinese interests) of Land Rover were transferred to it. The consequence was that Jaguar Land Rover Limited became responsible in the UK for the design, manufacture and marketing of both Jaguar and Land Rover branded products, and Land Rover and Jaguar Cars ceased to be separate vehicle producing entities.<ref name=jlrar2012-2013>{{cite web|title=Annual Report 2012/2013|url=https://b.jcms-api.com/download/f34fc56c-5b61-490e-910f-98463d8fd553/jaguarlandroverautomotiveplcannualreport20122013.pdf|publisher=Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC|pages=91|access-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126070639/https://b.jcms-api.com/download/f34fc56c-5b61-490e-910f-98463d8fd553/jaguarlandroverautomotiveplcannualreport20122013.pdf|archive-date=2018-01-26|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Timeline ===
* 1947: Rover's chief designer [[Maurice Wilks]] and his associates create a prototype using Jeep chassis and components<ref>{{cite book|  url=https://books.google.com/books?id=On9TAAAAMAAJ&q=1947+Land+Rover+prototype+used+Jeep+chassis+and+other+components |page=210 |year=1986 |title=The Range Rover/Land-Rover |first=Graham |last=Robson |publisher=David & Charles|isbn= 9780715387863 |access-date=14 June 2012 }}</ref>
* 1948: The first Land Rover was officially launched on 30 April 1948, at the Amsterdam Motor Show
* 1958: [[Land Rover Series II|Series II]] launched
* 1961: [[Land Rover Series IIa|Series IIA]] began production
* 1967: Rover becomes part of [[Leyland Motors]], later [[British Leyland]] (BL) as Rover Triumph
* 1970: Introduction of the [[Range Rover Classic|Range Rover]]
* 1971: [[Land Rover Series III|Series III]] launched
* 1974: Land Rover abandons US market<ref>{{cite book|last=Bargo |first=Michael |title=Off-road High-performance Handbook: How to Build, Modify and Play with Your Offroad Truck |year=1988 |publisher=Motorbooks International |isbn=9780879383091 |page=15 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=qGobAQAAMAAJ&q=stopped+selling+the+Land+Rover+in+the+United+States+at+the+end+of+1974 |access-date=21 October 2017}}</ref> facing competitive pressure from Japanese  –  brands
* 1975: BL collapses and is nationalised, publication of the [[Ryder Report (British Leyland)|Ryder Report]] recommends that Land Rover be split from Rover and be treated as a separate company within BL and becomes part of the new commercial vehicle division called the Land Rover Leyland Group
* 1976: One-millionth Land Rover leaves the production line
* 1978: Land Rover Limited formed as a separate subsidiary of British Leyland<ref>{{cite press release |title=Sixty Years and Four Million Vehicles: Milestones of Land Rover's History |publisher=Land Rover |url=http://uk.medialandrover.com/uploads/pdf/sixty_year_anniversary_timeline_4cd8.doc |access-date=6 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528134440/http://uk.medialandrover.com/uploads/pdf/sixty_year_anniversary_timeline_4cd8.doc |archive-date=28 May 2008}}</ref>
* 1980: Rover car production ends at [[Solihull plant|Solihull]] with the transfer of SD1 production to [[Plant Oxford|Cowley, Oxford]]; Solihull is now exclusively for Land Rover manufacture. 5-door Range Rover introduced
* 1983: [[Land Rover Defender|Land Rover 90 (Ninety)/110 (One-Ten)/127]] (renamed Defender in 1990) introduced
* 1986: BL plc becomes Rover Group plc; [[Land Rover Llama|Project Llama]] started
* 1987: Range Rover is finally introduced to the US market, following many years of demand being filled by [[Grey import vehicle|grey market sales]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Wiki/The_History_of_Land_Rover_-_Small_Beginnings-Big_Results |title=The History of Land Rover |website=iFixit |date=2 July 2015 |access-date=21 October 2017 |archive-date=29 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629213118/https://www.ifixit.com/Wiki/The_History_of_Land_Rover_-_Small_Beginnings-Big_Results |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bringatrailer.com/2010/12/29/1978-range-rover-2-door/ |title=1978 Range Rover 2-Door |date=29 December 2010 |publisher=bringatrailer.com |access-date=21 October 2017 |archive-date=6 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706070504/http://bringatrailer.com/2010/12/29/1978-range-rover-2-door/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1988: Rover Group is privatised and becomes part of [[British Aerospace]], and is now known simply as [[MG Rover|Rover]]
* 1989: Introduction of [[Land Rover Discovery|Discovery]]
* 1990: The Ninety and One-Ten range of models are given the generic name of [[Land Rover Defender|Defender]]
* 1994: Rover Group is taken over by [[BMW]]. Introduction of second-generation Range Rover. (The original Range Rover was continued under the name 'Range Rover Classic' until 1995)
* 1997: Land Rover introduces the Special Edition Discovery XD with AA yellow paint, subdued wheels, SD type roof racks, and a few other off-road upgrades directly from the factory. Produced only for the North American market, the Special Vehicles Division of Land Rover created only 250 of these bright yellow SUVs.
* 1997: Introduction of [[Land Rover Freelander|Freelander]]
* 1998: Introduction of mark II Discovery
* 2000: BMW breaks up the Rover Group and sells Land Rover to [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] for £1.8 billion<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/761794.stm | work=BBC News | title=BMW, Ford seal Land Rover deal | date=24 May 2000 | access-date=10 March 2011 | archive-date=13 August 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813155853/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/761794.stm | url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2002: Introduction of third-generation [[Range Rover]]
* 2004: Introduction of second-generation [[Land Rover Discovery|Discovery]], marketed as the Discovery 3, or LR3, depending on market
* 2005: Introduction of [[Range Rover Sport]]
* 2005: Adoption of [[Jaguar AJ-V8 engine]] to replace the [[BMW M62]] [[V8 engine|V8]] in the Range Rover
* 2006: Announcement of a new 2.4-litre diesel engine, 6-speed gearbox, dash and forward-facing rear seats for Defender. Introduction of the second generation of Freelander (Freelander 2). Ford acquires the Rover trademark from BMW, who previously licensed its use to MG Rover Group
* 8 May 2007: 4,000,000th Land Rover rolls off the production line, a Discovery 3 (LR3), donated to The [[Born Free Foundation]]
* 12 June 2007: Announcement from the [[Ford Motor Company]] that it plans to sell Land Rover and also [[Jaguar Cars]]
* August 2007: Tata Motors and [[Mahindra & Mahindra]] as well as financial sponsors [[Cerberus Capital Management]], [[TPG Capital]] and [[Apollo Global Management]] expressed their interest in purchasing [[Jaguar Cars]] and Land Rover from the Ford Motor Company.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/08/24/afx4052453.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090531143215/http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2007/08/24/afx4052453.html |archive-date=31 May 2009 |title=India's Tata confirms interest in Land Rover, Jaguar |magazine=Forbes.com |date=24 August 2007 |access-date=15 July 2010}}</ref>
* 26 March 2008: Ford agreed to sell the Jaguar and Land Rover operations to Tata Motors.<ref name="ford_20080326">{{cite press release|title=Ford Motor Company Announces Agreement to Sell Jaguar Land Rover to Tata Motors|publisher=Ford Motor Company|date=26 March 2008|url=http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=27953|access-date=14 February 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213003538/http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=27953|archive-date=13 February 2012}}</ref>
* 2 June 2008: Tata Motors finalised their purchase of Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford and put them into their new subsidiary, Jaguar Land Rover<ref name="r_20080602"/>
* 2010: Introduction of [[Land Rover Discovery|Discovery 4 / LR4]]
* 2011: The [[Range Rover Evoque]] introduced
* 2012: [[Range Rover (L405)|Fourth-generation Range Rover]] was exhibited at the [[2012 Paris Motor Show]]
* 1 January 2013: Land Rover and Jaguar Cars merged to form a single company, Jaguar Land Rover Limited, producing vehicles under both marques
* 2014: The New Discovery Range was unveiled at the 2014 New York Motor Show<ref>{{cite web |title=New York Motor Show 2014 preview |url=http://www.autocarindia.com/auto-news/new-york-motor-show-2014-preview-382204.aspx |publisher=Auto Car India |date=9 April 2014 |access-date=21 October 2017 |archive-date=1 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401205932/http://www.autocarindia.com/auto-news/new-york-motor-show-2014-preview-382204.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1 March 2017: The [[Range Rover Velar]] was unveiled in London<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hudson|first1=Paul|title=Range Rover Velar revealed ahead of Geneva motor show debut|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/news/range-rover-velar-revealed-ahead-geneva-motor-show-debut/|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|access-date=25 February 2017|archive-date=28 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228155810/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/news/range-rover-velar-revealed-ahead-geneva-motor-show-debut/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* June 2018: representatives of the company Land Rover announced the launch of a new project called "Cortex", for the implementation of which will be spent about $5 million. The goal of this project is "to create self-propelled cars-robots that are able to independently navigate off-road in all weather conditions."<ref>[https://www.wired.com/story/land-rover-self-driving-cortex/ "Land Rover Wants to Take Self-Driving Cars Off-Roading"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617193228/https://www.wired.com/story/land-rover-self-driving-cortex/ |date=17 June 2018 }} Wired, 9 June 2018</ref>
* September 2019: Land Rover announces it is working on a remote control system for its new Defender that would allow low-speed driving from outside the car<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/land-rover-developing-remote-control-tech-defender|title=Land Rover developing remote control tech for Defender {{!}} Autocar|website=www.autocar.co.uk|access-date=2019-09-30|archive-date=30 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930173322/https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/land-rover-developing-remote-control-tech-defender|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1125276_land-rover-wants-to-turn-the-defender-into-a-giant-remote-control-car|title=Land Rover wants to turn the Defender into a giant remote control car|website=Motor Authority|date=27 September 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-09-30|archive-date=30 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930173328/https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1125276_land-rover-wants-to-turn-the-defender-into-a-giant-remote-control-car|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2020: [[Land Rover Defender (L663)]] is released.