One millionth Range Rover exits production line

Land Rover has reached a new milestone with its Range Rover model, with the one millionth car coming out of the production line at Solihull manufacturing plant. To celebrate the occasion the milestone vehicle will be donated to Help for Heroes.

The one millionth Range Rover, an Autobiography version in ultimate black, was built at Solihull, a plant that has produced three generations of the Range Rover, since June 1970.

Alan Volkaerts, Solihull Manufacturing Director and Land Rover's Managing Director Phil Popham, where joined by Land Rover employees to celebrate the milestone event in Range Rover's fortieth year. Popham drove the one millionth Range Rover to Help for Heroes. He was followed from Solihull to London by a convoy of heritage Range Rovers, driven by their enthusiastic owners.

Jeremy Clarkson, as patron of Help for Heroes, took delivery of the one millionth Range Rover on behalf of the charity on the set of Top Gear Live, at Earls Court in London.

“Land Rover is very proud to support the Help for Heroes charity by donating the one millionth Range Rover. The vehicle will be auctioned later this year and should raise valuable funds for the practical and direct provision of aid for wounded service people and their families,” said Phil Popham, MD Jaguar Land Rover.

“We’re delighted that Land Rover has chosen to give Help for Heroes their millionth Range Rover,” said Bryn Parry, CEO and Co-founder of Help for Heroes. “This is a real milestone in their history and so a very special donation, made even more special by knowing the money raised from the car will be able to provide much needed funds to help our wounded heroes on their road to recovery.

As the world’s first vehicle as good on-road as off-road, the Range Rover has aready saved its spot as one of the most significant vehicles in the history of motoring. Throughout the years it kept its place as Land Rover’s flagship model, offering a combination of comfort, luxury, design, technology and versatility.

The Range Rover already counts 40 years of history, with the first generation debuting in 1970. This generation was produced for just over 25 years, suffering numerous upgrades and receiving a multiplicity of variants.

In 1994 the second generation, known as the P38a, was put on sale and was replaced by the current model in 2001. Over the last decade the Range Rover received further enhancements, which helped it retain its position as one of the world's most complete luxury vehicles.

In 2005 Land Rover introduced the Range Rover Sport, which added a sport tourer SUV to the Range Rover line-up. The new variant became an instant sales success and has already sold over 300,000 vehicles over the past six years. In 2011 the Range Rover Evoque will be the third model joining the Range Rover lineup.