Land Rover celebrates 500,000 sales in U.S.
Land Rover first clambered onto our shores in March, 1987. It took almost ten-and-a-half years to sell the first 100,000 vehicles in the U.S., but it took only five more to move the next 150,000. And now with an expanded lineup and the Range Rover still stalking the countryside as the king of the luxury SUV pride, Land Rover North America has taken just two-and-a-half years to sell another 100,000 units. When a Range Rover Sport left the lot in Cerritos, California this month, that totaled 500,000 Land Rovers bought and paid for. And so to you Land Rover, on your 60th birthday, a tip of the hat and half a million kudos. Press release after the jump.
[Source: Land Rover]
PRESS RELEASE
Land Rover North America Reaches 500,000 Sales Milestone
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Land Rover North America announced this weekend during its annual Retailer Breakfast Meeting at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention in New Orleans, that the company reached a historic milestone recently when a Range Rover Sport Supercharged became the company's 500,000th vehicle sold in the United States. The Range Rover Sport was sold by Land Rover Cerritos, a retailer in Southern California.
"Reaching this milestone demonstrates the strength of the Land Rover brand and is a result of a dedicated and passionate retailer network," said Chris Marchand, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Sales, Land Rover North America. "The Land Rover model line-up has undergone a complete revitalization and reaching this achievement shows the growth we have experienced over the past four years. It took us ten years to sell the first 100,000 vehicles and we have sold the last 100,000 since July of 2006."
Land Rover North America began retailing vehicles on March 16, 1987, importing its first Range Rover into the United States and single-handedly creating the luxury sports utility vehicle segment. The company reached its first major milestone of 100,000 vehicles sold by September 1997 and 250,000 vehicles by December 2002.
Land Rover is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary globally and offers an outstanding vehicle line-up that includes the highly acclaimed Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Land Rover LR3 and Land Rover LR2.
Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true 'breadth of capability' across the model range. Defender, LR2 (Freelander 2), LR3 (Discovery 3), Range Rover Sport and Range Rover each define the world's 4x4 sectors, with 78% of this model range exported to over 140 countries. Land Rover employs 8,500 people and supports a further 40,000 jobs supported in the supply chain.
Land Rover takes its responsibility to the environment seriously. Emissions have been cut with all new models and, together with Jaguar, it is investing British Pounds Sterling 700m on technology specifically aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Also, since September 2006, carbon dioxide generated by Land Rover manufacturing activities and UK customer vehicle use has been balanced through an industry leading offset program run by Climate Care.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Hamhock 6:02PM (1/27/2009)
500,000 sold = 10,000,000 dealer service visits.....
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Yaroukh 6:04PM (1/27/2009)
man you beat me to it :)
firstplace 9:01PM (1/27/2009)
and they still cant make one reliable one.
Yaroukh 6:04PM (1/27/2009)
how many of them still in duty?
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Mondo 6:16PM (1/27/2009)
It's kinda funny that LR is considered so unreliable now when their legacy is as a bullet proof, go anywhere utilitarian beast of a machine (Series I-III, Defender). Now their reliability sucks pretty bad, just ahead of... Jeep, the other go anywhere utilitarian vehicles. What's that about anyway?
Jake B 6:14PM (1/27/2009)
Are the majority of Land Rover dealerships partnered with a Jaguar dealer? Wouldn't a combined Land Rover/Jaguar lot make much more sense in terms of keeping people on the lot regardless of the vehicles they are looking at?
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Yaroukh 6:32PM (1/27/2009)
I hate this commenting system.
When you read someone's reply it shows only the particular thread and there is no way to display all the comments under the article.
I have almost got used to the fact that replies usualy land whoknowswhere.
Does any1 know of any worse commenting system on any major blog in this universe?
(BTW good luck in next Best Major Blog contest, AB!)
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JB 7:09PM (1/27/2009)
Got a 1991 discovery sitting in my driveway now with the old 200Tdi diesel motor in it.
Only requires one electrical wire to run...those were the days.
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P.V. 7:19PM (1/27/2009)
Wow. Congratulations LR, and here's to another 500000 sales!
It may just be me, but why do I think of an oversized top hat whenever I see the Range Rover? Also, how did Land Rover stick the Range Rover sheetmetal on the LR3 platform to make the Range Rover Sport?
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Liam 8:45PM (1/27/2009)
My 03 Land River Discovery has been bullet proof and I have 78K miles on it.
My brothers 2006 Range Rover Sport has 46K miles on it and has not had ONE issue.
My sisters 05 Range Rover has 44K miles on it and has only been in the shop for oil changes and normal service. Land Rover comes to their place of employment (3 towns away) to pick up and drop off a loaner just for an oil change.
I would suggest one sits in and drives one, you would then know why they are the most coveted SUV built.
The reliability perception in this case is NOT reality.
Two other sisters have 07 Tahoes and one needed a new transmission at 12K miles and the other has had it towed 2x. (Onstar issue both times).
Again, reliability perception in this case is NOT reality.
I have a large family (total of 11 children) and together with spouses we have a bunch of cars and by far the (2 )Range Rovera and (1) Land Rover outperform in reliability over the vehicle makes we all own: (3) Tahoes, Jeep Grand Cherokee, (2) Saabs, (2) Mercedes, (4) Chevy trucks, (1) Chevy Malibu, (1) Nissan Minivan, (1) Ford pick up,. (1) Audi 10 year old wagon, (1) Saturn SUV (1) Bmw Coupe.
The only cars that have been better are (1) Audi A6 and (1) Honda CRV.
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Franz 10:51PM (1/27/2009)
That's an interesting and pretty extensive lineup for comparison's sake. I have an Uncle who's driven nothing but Range Rovers for the last 18 years or so and his have always been pretty reliable. Another Grand Uncle had a 60's Series IIA since new. He died a couple years ago but it still runs beautifully. There's also a smattering of Discoveries and Defenders in the family too and they've been especially bulletproof. I can't speak for anyone else, but the Land Rovers in my family have all performed pretty much flawlessly.
Threader 9:43PM (1/27/2009)
JD Powers Land Rover = Kia in Used reliability
Not a myth
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings/dependability-ratings-by-brand
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Sea Urchin 10:13PM (1/27/2009)
Ahh yes, yet another off roader for a suburban mom with two double chins.
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harlanx6 10:29PM (1/27/2009)
If they have sold 1/2 million, I have no clue where they are. A typical comment on seeing one is: God, what the hell is that!
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A.R. 2:41AM (1/28/2009)
I think the current model Range Rover pictured above is beautiful, albeit overpriced. I would think about buying one if the reliability was better and the starting price 10k less. Hope Tata can make some inroads into improving reliability. Their SUVs in India have a reputation for being rock-solid, utilitarian all-road vehicles.
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Avinash machado 3:30AM (1/28/2009)
I think 90% of those sales were in Los Angeles.
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harlanx6 10:52AM (1/28/2009)
You must be right, Avinash, it's ironic that these expensive but capable SUVs are being used in the countries biggest traffic jam!
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beanspants 12:43PM (1/28/2009)
they also sell lots in Texas. I see about a dozen or so a day on my 10 minute commute. i love the classic range rover, it's my dream car, and the LR3 is nice too. i don't care much for the sport.
comradevv 3:58PM (1/28/2009)
Land Rover was in the US long before 1987. They were selling the Series III in the US up until 1974...then left until 1987. Maybe they didn't count my '73 Series III in the 500,000.
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