Solihull is still a problem for the company. Although quality is on the rise, this facility has in some ways not totally left the days of BL behind. Moreover, it is struggling with three different platforms. The Range Rover’s steel BMW-designed chassis, the T5-based Discovery and Range Rover Sport and the labour intensive Defender. If Solihull is not to be wound down over the next five years, the management need to reduce the duplication of effort and parts inventories. The Defender would probably be best re-located to India.

Retiring the Defender abroad opens up another opportunity. In the 1970s and 80s, poor quality allowed Land Rover to lose its grip on the huge market for rugged off roaders in Australia, Africa, the Middle East and South America. Toyota walked into this slot and made it it’s own. So what about another pitch at the market with a series of T5-based vehicles? Perhaps leading with a sort of simplified Discovery, with in-field serviceability and first-grade reliability? And, eventually, crew-cab and pick-up spin-offs?

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