Autoblog

Jaguar-Land Rover CEO David Smith stepping down

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Jaguar, Land Rover, UK, Tata

The man installed by Tata to guide the Jaguar/Land Rover ship, David Smith, has left the company. Smith was the head of finance for Ford Europe, and had helped sell Aston Martin to Dave Richards' group before he assisted in the sale of Jaguar to Tata. He has been the CEO since 2008, and just last year helped the company secure a £340 million ($553 million) European Investment Bank loan guarantee. A short statement from the company itself gave no reason for the departure, saying only that Ravi Kant, company director, will take over in the meantime while a successor is found.

[Source: Jaguar/Land Rover, BBC]

Jaguar-Land Rover CEO David Smith stepping down originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jaguar X-Type reportedly read last rites, headed for The Great Beyond

Chris Shunk — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Europe, Jaguar, Luxury

2009 Jaguar X-Type - Click above for high-res image gallery

To read the market, the Jaguar X-Type was too small, too unattractive and too uncompetitive to justify its entry-level luxury price tag here in the U.S., and sales halted in March of last year. Somehow, the X-Type fared somewhat better in the ultra-competitive European market, and the Little Cat That Couldn't was scheduled to live on for Euro consumption through much of 2010.

The continually weak market for luxury cars and the X-Type's widening competitive gap are apparently conspiring to change that, though, as Autocar is reporting that all X-Type variants will cease production by the end of 2009. Jaguar Land Rover CEO David Smith told the U.K. magazine that the move was necessary considering the fact that sales of the brands have dropped 28% over the past 10 months.

Even with the eminent demise of the X-Type, Jaguar will still need to temporarily shut down its Halewood facility for three weeks beginning in September to keep inventories in check. Jaguar will cut 300 jobs though voluntary separation once production shuts down for good.

In spite of the fact that many believed that the X-Type looked dated and was uncompetitive since its launch back in 2001, Jaguar managed to sell 350,000 copies globally of the sedan and wagon over the past eight years, although sales in the U.S. reportedly ran at less than half of official projections. Thanks for the tip, Rohin!

Gallery: 2009 Jaguar X-Type

[Source: Autocar]

Jaguar X-Type reportedly read last rites, headed for The Great Beyond originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jaguar/Land Rover sale a done deal, Tata names new CEO

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover

It looks as if Ford is finally putting a fork in the sale of Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors... it's done. According to a statement from Ford, which can be read after the break, the sale of the two British automakers has been officially finalized as of today. Ford also wishes the best for its recently departed companies and their employees. Awww, isn't that sweet? We're glad we can all still be friends.

At Jaguar Land Rover, things seem to be business as usual. The company has announced that its new proud papa, Tata Motors, has named former CFO David Smith the new CEO for Jaguar and Land Rover. You may recall the untimely death of Geoff Polites, the company's previous CEO. Today's announcement of Smith's new appointment comes right on schedule based on past information provided by the company. Smith has already been the acting CEO since Polites' death late last April.

[Sources: Ford and Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Continue reading Jaguar/Land Rover sale a done deal, Tata names new CEO

Jaguar/Land Rover sale a done deal, Tata names new CEO originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments