Where is Land Rover from?

When it comes to motoring brands, few come with the aura and pedigree of Land Rover. Its models are synonymous with rugged good looks and the spirit of adventure, while inrecent years, have found a more urban audience due to their luxury gadgets and innate practicality. But as many motoring enthusiasts may be wondering: where is the Land Rover from?

Read on to find out more about this undisputed motoring icon.

Where was Land Rover born?

The origins of Land Rover lie in post-war Britain. In 1947, Maurice Wilks, chief designer at Rover Cars, designed a prototype for the British Army. One year later, a legend was born when the Land Rover Series I was introduced to the motoring public at the Amsterdam Motor Show.

The first Land Rovers were manufactured in the Solihull factory on the outskirts of Birmingham and were painted in largely green shades due to a surplus of military vehicle paint in the years following World War Two. The vehicle was initially conceived as a four-wheel drive utility vehicle characterised by its sturdy, boxy ladder frame chassis. Its tough, basic design and ability to drive anywhere made it an instant classic with farmers, country folk, the military and other off-road enthusiasts.

This was followed up by the Land Rover Series II in 1958 and the Land Rover Series III in 1971. The company also diversified its offering by introducing the luxury – and now instantly recognisable – Range Rover in 1970 as well as the Land Rover Defender in 1983.

The Land Rover brand remained under British ownership – both privatised and nationalised –until 1994, when it was acquired by the BMW group. Land Rover was then acquired by Ford Motors Group in 2000, before eventually falling under the umbrella of Tata Motors in 2008 – India’s largest automotive company. Today, the Land Rover brand functions as an independent subsidiary of Tata Group and is one-half of the Jaguar Land Rover company. Despite its now global reach, the brand has continued to stay true to its British roots and maintains a strong manufacturing presence within the UK as well as in Brazil, China, India and Slovakia.

Land Rover – A British Icon?

The Land Rover logo – also designed by Maurice Wilks –has become an iconic emblem associated with adventure, the great outdoors and motoring excellence.

From country lanes to the schoolyard, Land Rovers are a familiar sight across the UK today. According to the latest figures, there are over 415,000 Range Rovers alone today on British roads, with an estimated 70% of all series Land Rovers ever made still on the road – a testament to their enduring durability.

As well as being closely associated with the British military, the Land Rover has also played pivotal roles in the farming and forestry industries.

The Land Rover brand has also had a very special relationship with the British Royal Family over the years. In 1951, Land Rover was officially honoured with a Royal Warrant, signifying its status as a supplier to the Royal Household. In the years since, various members of the Royal Family have been pictured at the wheel of Land Rover vehicles many times on the estates of Sandringham, Windsor and Balmoral. A specially designed Land Rover hearse was even used during the funeral of Prince Philip in 2021. This longstanding royal affiliation has certainly added an extra layer of prestige to the brand’s eight-decade heritage.

Interested in making a Land Rover your next drive? At Jardine Motors, we stock a range of new and approved used Land Rover across our network of UK dealerships. We’d be delighted to help you answer any queries you may have or welcome you to one of our showrooms.