Land Rover has delayed the launch of its Defender 90 by more than six months due to production delays caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Defender 90 was originally due to open for orders in February before deliveries started this summer. However, the Land Rover UK website now states: “As a result of the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic to our production plants globally, Defender 90 production has been delayed. We anticipate Defender 90 will be available to order from early September 2020. Current prices are indicative only.” The Defender 90 is currently priced from £40,290.
The long-wheelbase Defender 110, which was launched first, is “available to order and collect safely now”, confirmed Land Rover.
All Defender variants for global markets are built at the brand’s plant in Nitra, Slovakia. That facility, which employs 2800 workers and has an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles, is currently running on just one shift, with Jaguar Land Rover yet to confirm when it will resume its normal, two- or three-shift operations.
The first Defender 90s off the line are due to be First Edition launch models, priced at £55,220. While there are not yet sales figures for the new Defender, insiders have said the highly anticipated model has been incredibly well-received.
Alongside the Defender 90 and 110, the brand recently revealed the 4x4’s commercial variant, the Defender Hard Top. More variants are expected to be added to the line-up to ensure the Defender family is profitable for the SUV brand.
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More likely to be running out of parts
It should not come as a surprise that Land Rover have delayed the start of production of the Defender 90. The supply chain for parts will have been affected even if the factory in Slovakia has suffered minimal impact. There is a Worldwide supply shortage in all industries at the moment. If a builder can’t obtain a few bits of timber, imagine the issues car manufacturers are having to resolve with all the complex supply chains involved with the production of a vehicle.
20000 backlog is no joke
20000 orders for this king of a car is no joke. people will be buying these in droves.Have patience!
Running out of money
This is a sign of deep cost cutting. It’s nothing to do with the good or bad qualities of the car. It’s a way of not going bust this or next quarter. Very sad. The German manufacturers are serving up new model after new model and JLR are just trying not to run out of cash. They’re doing the right things: trying to clear stock, updates to key models (Range Rovers & I-Pace) but it’s an unforgiving world.
rhwilton wrote:
how does one go bust when you are owned by TATA?