[TodmordenLad]

In today's news, they're talking about a £2.5bn plan to reduce costs. Cant see how that wont effect jobs, unless they're grossly inefficient to start with, which is highly unlikely. They employ 40,000 workers in the UK. Its a crying shame but they've got their long-term strategy wrong and you cant do much about that in a hurry, IMO

[TouringPleb]

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

Good point. They've got ahead of the mainstream game a little bit there.

Hope they do well. As said above, huge employer in this country. We need the likes of JLR, Honda, Toyota, Nissan to do well.

But is what's still a relatively niche vehicle going to generate the revenues needed for the massive investment the car industry needs?

Like I you I really hope they can pull through this and reinvent themselves. We had a Freelander 2 HSE which was a great car and then that got replaced by a first generation XF which was a fantastic car. It was a stunning metallic blue and drove so nicely with the 3.0d engine. When my partner saw it he was like I want that car, don't care how much it costs I want it.

Recently we were in a Jag/LR dealership and saw nothing we liked apart from a top of the range Velar for ridiculous money. Walked out saying oh well..

[Ajs_435d]

Originally Posted by RENT-A-GOAT

JLR also has not been helping itself by employing huge numbers of contract staff some on 2/3x that of a fixed position salary all well and good but no where near a sustainable business model. That's before adding non premium build quality cars at premium prices with often woeful aftercare & above average servicing/repair costs. It's a bubble which is only going to burst. But as its such a small part of TATA will they actually give a shit what happens to their pet project who knows.

I'm pretty sure any of company given the choice would employ staff if you could find staff with the experience and niche skill - if you can't find that quickly you'll need to employ contractors that have that experience. You only employ contractors for the short term or can't fill that skill set so I don't think it's primarily by choice!.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by TouringPleb

With Land Rover the Evoque is old now and coming to the end of its life. The Range Rover is getting old now. RR Sport has had its face lift so that's getting towards the end of its life. I think they've fucked up royally with the new Disco. The Velar is very spec dependant in terms of colour and big wheels etc.

There isn't a single Jaguar I'd consider. They've made a major mistake with the XE and XF in how conservative (dull) they are. The E-Pace looks strangely proportioned. The F-Pace is also starting to look old and again needs big wheels, body kit etc to look half decent. The F-Type is way too heavy and expensive.

Doesn't bode well for them I think

Aye, hard to argue with any of this. I would have an F Pace if it was that market of car I was after, it's just gorgeous...but totally agree on the weight I had to check about 5 times it wasn't a type-o. For some reason, never really seemed to come down in price or have better PCP deals.

[JustChris]

Mini thread jack, but how bad could that news at Bentley be? £137M loss over 9 months isn't great but they are small figures in the car industry...aren't they? Can't keep that up though, pretty certain the new Conti will sell like hot cakes.

[takumichinoku]

Im getting rid of the M3 and have now placed a order for a velar with the full works, dec/jan delivery.

Will let you know how I get on! Won’t be enjoying the infotainment and will miss the M but needs must. It’s just not a comfortable car to be taking my 5 month old around in.

Good spec with the big Diesel engine. Fingers crossed I don’t get reliability issues!

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by JustChris

Mini thread jack, but how bad could that news at Bentley be? £137M loss over 9 months isn't great but they are small figures in the car industry...aren't they? Can't keep that up though, pretty certain the new Conti will sell like hot cakes.

From what I've read Bentley aren't doing great at all. The CEO was fired not long ago and they brought in that guy from JLR to turn it around.

Sales of the Bentayga are on the slide already, which isn't great given its only 2 years old, and the new Continental has had production issues which has really impacted its launch sales.

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

From what I've read Bentley aren't doing great at all. The CEO was fired not long ago and they brought in that guy from JLR to turn it around.

Sales of the Bentayga are on the slide already, which isn't great given its only 2 years old, and the new Continental has had production issues which has really impacted its launch sales.

I'm not a £150-200k car buyer. But if I was, and if I bought into the general image of the car, I could not get past the name. Does anyone actually want to walk into their crowd of peers and say 'Yh, I have a bentayga'. It must kill a percentage of sales stone dead, surely?

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by takumichinoku

Im getting rid of the M3 and have now placed a order for a velar with the full works, dec/jan delivery.

Will let you know how I get on! Won’t be enjoying the infotainment and will miss the M but needs must. It’s just not a comfortable car to be taking my 5 month old around in.

Good spec with the big Diesel engine. Fingers crossed I don’t get reliability issues!

Nice one it's a lovely car, enjoy.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

From what I've read Bentley aren't doing great at all. The CEO was fired not long ago and they brought in that guy from JLR to turn it around.

Sales of the Bentayga are on the slide already, which isn't great given its only 2 years old, and the new Continental has had production issues which has really impacted its launch sales.

Agee's. hmm bro in law works there and he's just relocated to be nearer work. Sure he will be fine.

I did see the chief had gone, hadn't read it was a sacking but I guess that makes sense if official or not. All eyes on the conti GT then, unless this flies off the line might be some job losses coming within the quarter.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

I'm not a £150-200k car buyer. But if I was, and if I bought into the general image of the car, I could not get past the name. Does anyone actually want to walk into their crowd of peers and say 'Yh, I have a bentayga'. It must kill a percentage of sales stone dead, surely?

I think it was the dropping of diesel that has hurt sales as that outsold the petrol when it was launched but then they dropped it for some reason.

I like the Bentayga, not that it helps them sell any...

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by Wills2

I think it was the dropping of diesel that has hurt sales as that outsold the petrol when it was launched but then they dropped it for some reason.

I like the Bentayga, not that it helps them sell any...

Ah, I should have read properly. Hadn't realised they dropped the diesel. Yes, that will be a huge blow.

I like it too. If I was loaded AND they badged it with the original concept name (9F) then I would be very tempted with one in a subdued hue and spec. Two massive IFs there

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

Ah, I should have read properly. Hadn't realised they dropped the diesel. Yes, that will be a huge blow.

I like it too. If I was loaded AND they badged it with the original concept name (9F) then I would be very tempted with one in a subdued hue and spec. Two massive IFs there

That's just in the UK though in terms of sales, they dropped the diesel version in Europe but kept it in other markets like Russia, but I doubt they offered it in the US and Middle east in the first place, it sold 400 units in its first year in the UK.

I think they (VW) are running scared with Porsche and Bentley dropping diesel when it suits the larger models in V8 form, odd decision really but I guess they are going for a petrol then petrol/hybrid then electric strategy across the board and started the cull with the premium low volume stuff first.

But I really do think that the big SUVs will struggle to sell with only petrol engines in the UK.

[teaston]

Looks like they’re cutting 5000 jobs next year!

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/i...00-jobs’

[Wills2]

And blaming Brexit amongst other things, I notice the Germans aren't laying anyone off....

[Watsey]

That's what you get for making unreliable, over-priced cars for conceited tossers. Few sales.

No offence intended to anyone on the Forum

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Watsey

That's what you get for making unreliable, over-priced cars for conceited tossers. Few sales.

No offence intended to anyone on the Forum

My Dad has a Discovery sport, he’s had the heater matrix replaced twice, second time was out of warranty, and now it’s in for an oil leak between the gearbox and diff!

[pmgreenwood]

Originally Posted by Wills2

That 70% GFV is a made up number that JLR will be on the hook for, it allows them to offer a cheap monthly without offering an upfront discount.

It has nothing to do with the actual value of a 4 year old velar at trade, they're not selling demand is soft but they either can't or won't offer large discounts so they are pushing that can down the road by underwriting a large GFV.

Can down the road, Theresa must be their CEO!!!

[Watsey]

Originally Posted by teaston

My Dad has a Discovery sport, he’s had the heater matrix replaced twice, second time was out of warranty, and now it’s in for an oil leak between the gearbox and diff!

Pressures on prices and profits, combined with the relentless pace of development to meet (or drive) customer expectations - compromises in the engineering of components and less time for testing ?

My current BMW has been the most unreliable of the (5) 3-series that I've had, but manufacturers like BMW do have big customer bases to spread the losses if a model has problems, and having large numbers of each model on the roads does build brand.

I've hardly seen any XEs or Velar's (2, from memory) on the roads - they don't appear to be selling in decent numbers at all.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Watsey

Pressures on prices and profits, combined with the relentless pace of development to meet (or drive) customer expectations - compromises in the engineering of components and less time for testing ?

My current BMW has been the most unreliable of the (5) 3-series that I've had, but manufacturers like BMW do have big customer bases to spread the losses if a model has problems, and having large numbers of each model on the roads does build brand.

I've hardly seen any XEs or Velar's (2, from memory) on the roads - they don't appear to be selling in decent numbers at all.

That's a coincidence, my current car is also the most unreliable of the five 3 Series' i've had too!

All minor niggles though, apart from the squeaky suspension joint I could have carried on with the other faults indefinitely.

[troggy1969]

https://www.tatamotors.com/investors...lease-archive/

Sales up in Europe, UK and North America but down 50% in China, can't really blame that on Brexit!!!

Seriously considering a i-pace

[teaston]

Originally Posted by troggy1969

https://www.tatamotors.com/investors...lease-archive/

Sales up in Europe, UK and North America but down 50% in China, can't really blame that on Brexit!!!

Seriously considering a i-pace

Those are surprising figures!

The i-pace is undoubtedly the best EV available currently, mind you that’s like saying Gonorrhoea is the best VD available!