Mr Rohit Suri, Managing Director & President, Jaguar Land Rover India Talks About Jlr’s Plans For The Indian Market In An E-conversation With Konark Tyagi.
Q1. JLR has been doing well in the Indian market. What can we expect from JLR in the coming year?
Ans. Jaguar Land Rover India started the year 2017 on a positive note and reported a robust growth of
45% for the first nine months; i.e. January to September 2017. Almost all model lines of Jaguar Land
Rover, including XE, XF, F-PACE, Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque are witnessing increasing
popularity. On the basis of various published figures in the media so far, Jaguar Land Rover India has
become the fastest growing brand in India in the luxury market space during the first nine months of
2017.
Our most recent launch was the All-New Land Rover Discovery, launched at a starting price of ₹71.38
Lakh (ex-showroom) for the 3.0-litre petrol derivative. We also launched the locally manufactured
Jaguar F-PACE, our sixth locally produced vehicle, adding to the current range that includes the Range
Rover Evoque, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Jaguar XE, XF and XJ.
Currently, Jaguar Land Rover vehicles are available in India through 26 authorised dealerships; including
Vijayawada our newest addition, inaugurated on November 23. We propose to add 2-3 new outlets to
our local operations by the end of this year.
Q2. What defines and differentiates JLR in the Indian market especially from the German
competition?
Ans. There are a number of ways in which we differentiate ourselves from our competition:
1. Products: Our fabulously designed, engineered and award winning products, the most recent
example being the Jaguar F-PACE that won the 2017 World Car Of The Year and Design Of The Year
awards.
2. Customer Experience: We consistently endeavour to deliver a high level of customer experience
and the following factors have enabled that:
a. Focus on enhanced network capability: To ensure our workforce is ahead of the learning curve,
we focus extensively on providing world-class technical and non-technical skills related training
to our teams on a continuous basis. As a testimony to this, two of our technicians from India
won a global technical contest organized by JLR at a global level.
b. Focus on world-class facilities: Our extensive and most modern Sales, Parts and After-sales
facilities, are spread across India and adhere to high service delivery standards, supported by
the most modern processes, tools and equipment.
3. Iconic brand positioning: Jaguar and Land Rover are recognized as highly coveted luxury brands in
the world with many accolades to their credit
Q3. What major launches can we expect at the 2018 Indian Auto Expo? Any possibility of the new
Velar India launch at the Expo?
Ans. We recently launched the All-New Land Rover Discovery at a starting price of Rs 71.38 Lakh (ex-
showroom). The All-New Discovery plugs a very important gap between Discovery Sport and Range
Rover Sport. At a price of Rs 71.38 lakh for the petrol derivative, it is a very important price point.
Additionally, we will launch the New Range Rover Velar in the coming months and will make an
announcement on this shortly.
Q4. Do you think that the Indian market will be fully ready for Electric Vehicles by 2030? What is JLR’s
strategy for the same?
Ans. Jaguar Land Rover announced the launch of its first electric car -I- PACE in global markets and there
is nothing to stop it from coming to India. However, our plans will be based on readiness and availability
of infrastructure to support electric vehicles.
Q5. JLR is known to launch products in an eccentric manner. What is the reason for this? Has it helped
the brand?
Ans. Jaguar Land Rover’s brand vision is to deliver customer experiences that are memorable. Any event
we do is an opportunity to deliver such experiences, born out of key consumer insights, our events are
meant to deliver on this vision. Rather than being just another event they are targeted at the customer.
Whether it was the F-PACE launch in downtown Mumbai where we created a 60-foot tall beacon to
announce the arrival of the product into India or the launch of the Discovery in a large carnival like
environment at an open-air location, our events are designed to engage and excite our target audience.
The feedback from customers and media on our events has been overwhelming as these events are still
remembered and talked about by them with enormous excitement till date.
Q6. LRE and TAOPT are activities that are helping the brand reach out to potential customers. What
are the way forward plans?
Ans. Jaguar and Land Rover are iconic brand with products renowned for their legendary design and all-
terrain capability. Through experiential drive events including the Land Rover Experience and The Art of
Performance Tour, we seek to familiarize our customers with the actual prowess of our vehicles.
The Art of Performance Tour is a series of dynamic events that provide an opportunity to the customer
to experience what it's like to get behind the wheel of a Jaguar under the guidance of expert instructors.
Customers experience Jaguar’s unique offering that combines exhilarating performance in an ambience
of seductive luxury that truly excites the senses. On the other hand, Land Rover Experience involves
getting behind the wheel of a Land Rover to take on an exciting drive experience over different terrains
and challenges.
Encouraged by the response for both these activities, we are conducting multiple dynamic drive
experiences for Jaguar and Land Rover, across the length and breadth of India.
7. You’ve been spotted driving the old (previous gen) Discovery around Mumbai. Any special
story/connect with that particular car? Is that your daily drive?
Ans: Yes it’s my daily drive and the Discovery has always been my first choice on account of it being one
of the most versatile and capable vehicles, both on-road and off-road.
Q8. Your most used mobile app?
Ans: Good Notes.
Q9. The Book you’re currently reading? (Either eBook, paperback)
Ans: The Story of India by Michael Wood
10. Your next tech buy?
Ans: iPhone X
11. One quote that you live by?
Ans: “Make the most of the moment you have”