New-look Land Rover

A new version of the Land Rover Defender has started production at Solihull in Birmingham.

The new model goes on sale this spring and will feature significant upgrades which are long overdue.

The extension to the long life of Defender, which has been in production in various models since 1948, will preserve more than 750 jobs at the factory where it is produced alongside the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Discovery 3.

Annual production of Defender has remained consistent at around 25,000 units in recent years, with much of the demand coming from large contract orders.

"Defender remains a significant contributor to the business as well as an enduring symbol of Land Rover's 4x4 heritage," said spokesman Phil Popham.

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