Member Since: 18 May 2012
Location: Somewhere behind a red dot
Posts: 8
Factory problems?
Hi all, just wondered if anyone has heard about issues at Solihull currently affecting the delivery of the Discovery 4 to customers?
I've been told my delivery has been delayed because of these issues and curious to know what the issues are...
14th Jul 2012 11:36 am
APL
Member Since: 14 Sep 2011
Location: Europe
Posts: 1130
There has been a significant jump in export orders, and despite the T5 going back to full 24 hour shifts during the weekdays they just cannot cope with the upturn in demand for the Discovery at the moment. This often happens....
And probably always will for as long as they (a) only have one Discovery production line in the world and (b) continue to share that line with the RRS....2016 Discovery 4 Commercial
2019 Discovery 5 HSE
14th Jul 2012 12:21 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8053
6 weeks ago they went to 3 shifts, moved a lot of material off-site to third party logistics supplier for sequencing and also doing prototype FFRR on the same line.......
14th Jul 2012 12:35 pm
MHP
Member Since: 31 Dec 2011
Location: lydd
Posts: 2776
The experts say that the over seas sales are at the highest they have ever been! land rover must be doing somthing right
14th Jul 2012 12:37 pm
APL
Member Since: 14 Sep 2011
Location: Europe
Posts: 1130
From what I've heard it is mostly orders for China and Russia that are strangling the production line at present, and unlike UK and Irish customers, buyers in those markets expect to order one week and take delivery no more than 28 days later......!2016 Discovery 4 Commercial
2019 Discovery 5 HSE
14th Jul 2012 12:44 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72799
Without the likes of China, US & Russia LR would be in it's sad state, like thee years ago. Not surprised they are prioritising these markets, bluntly they are more important than "local" markets. Re sharing the line with RRSs, I'm sure (from asking the question at 2 factory visits) if they had to ditch either the D4 or RRS (hypothetically of course) then they would need to buy in a few more R, A, N, G & E bonnet letters.
Discuss.
14th Jul 2012 12:53 pm
APL
Member Since: 14 Sep 2011
Location: Europe
Posts: 1130
Well you all know my views on this - I've been saying for a long time that the Discovery needs it's own production line. There would be many more available then and they would be able to sell them cheaper too. At this stage does it really matter where in the UK or abroad that line is though?
And I also think they need a line going in the Americas, somewhere, to cater for that market.
Perhaps RHD assembly could continue in the UK whilst there could then be a LHD facility somewhere else in Europe as well as the Americas.
The above would work well for all LR products.... More output, more sales, cheaper pricing all around.2016 Discovery 4 Commercial
2019 Discovery 5 HSE
14th Jul 2012 2:34 pm
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50944
as the new RRS due out late '12 early '13 will run on the same XJ platform as the FFRR ...the line should be freed up 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
14th Jul 2012 3:00 pm
110CSW
Member Since: 19 Oct 2005
Location: Scotland
Posts: 796
The new RRS is coming out pretty much straight after the FFRR?
14th Jul 2012 3:57 pm
amazing
Member Since: 05 Mar 2011
Location: chengdu
Posts: 1542
moving production over here should free it up nicely
and reduce the price here by 25%
win winIt is better to have and not need it then need and not have it.
As long as they don't work with Landwind on the project I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
15th Jul 2012 6:38 am
Tardis
Member Since: 18 May 2012
Location: Somewhere behind a red dot
Posts: 8
Thanks all who have responded
My D4 is built but stuck at the factory (been there for several weeks now) so its just a case of waiting for it to be delivered to the dealer....
20th Jul 2012 2:55 pm
muddywheels4wd
Member Since: 16 Dec 2010
Location: East Riding of Yorkshire
Posts: 1659
Thats why after 12 years/8 JLR's customers like me are worth nothing now - just glad I kept them going through the lean years so they could coin it in now Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW
Still hoping for a S2 one day!
20th Jul 2012 3:01 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8053
APL wrote:
Well you all know my views on this - I've been saying for a long time that the Discovery needs it's own production line. There would be many more available then and they would be able to sell them cheaper too. At this stage does it really matter where in the UK or abroad that line is though?.
....and proves you don't know the HUGE cost aligned to manufacturing facilities. The RRS and D4 use the same chassis and build facilities because they are basically the same car. To replicate a line would be a tens of millions and, whilst The company is now profitable, would not be sustainable on the, relatively low volumes. The capacity IS at its max but that is GOOD business colloquially known as "sweating the assets", the utopian situation. The POTENTIAL increase in sales would no way cover the facility costs to double-up something that doesn't require it.
And UK/Eire customers are not 'unimportant' but, unfortunately do sometimes take a slightly lower precedence but remember without the huge increase in sales overseas there wouldn't be ANY Land Rover or RR products for you to enjoy waiting for....
20th Jul 2012 5:29 pm
APL
Member Since: 14 Sep 2011
Location: Europe
Posts: 1130
Agreed! But they are loosing sales, especially over here, due to (a) lack of options and (b) lack of availability. It is a problem which could do with a solution of some sort....
I recall seeing the plans/feasibility study that Land Rover once had to build a factory over here in Wexford, it was going to assemble LHD Discovery 3 for the whole of Europe and convert the Irish models to Commercials where required, being right next to the shipping port with direct access to the UK/France.... It didn't take off in the end but it would have been interesting if it had done....2016 Discovery 4 Commercial
2019 Discovery 5 HSE
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