[nadepalma]

SOURCE: AutoNews.com

Classic names are part of Tata deal
Tony Lewin
Automotive News | March 27, 2008 - 6:46 am EST

Tata Motors will get the right use three classic British auto-brand names as part of its $2.3 billion deal to buy Jaguar and Land Rover.

Included in the deal are the Rover name and the Jaguar-owned names of Daimler and Lanchester.

Ford bought the rights to the Rover brand name from BMW in September 2006 for an undisclosed sum to ensure no other automaker could use it and cause confusion with the Land Rover brand.

"We acquired the Rover trademark in the interests of protecting Land Rover," said Ford of Europe spokesman John Gardiner. "So it's also in the interests of the new owner of Land Rover to have it."

MORE HERE

 

[nadepalma]

This stuff is very interesting to me. Its somewhat akin to a post I put in forever ago that spoke of Asian companies getting access and rights to recognizable Western car brands.

The example I used was SAIC's rights to the Austin nameplate (now that they've "merged" with Nanjing Auto) and how they could build competitive products for the west by sourcing and building them in China. While brands like Roewe, Great Wall, Chery, and Brillance dont hold any significance, Austin does.

Same holds true here, but with Rover (and to a much much much lesser extent, Daimler and Lanchester) -- which has only been off the market for a few years.

Even before Ford was approached by Tata to purchase JLR, it had hired a number of former Rover engineers around Longbridge. They are now working at an engineering center in the UK. Having those former employees return to a relaunched Rover brand would a kinda homecoming.

Could make this interesting...

 

[Carguy]

I say they should keep todays PREMIUM LWB XJ around as a DAIMLER when the next XJ is introduced. Its a BEAUTIFUL car that deserves to remain on the market in some form. Just give it the FLUTED EDGED grill work on a larger chrome grill unique to the Daimler brand.

 

[SUPERBADD75]

i think they should merge with Chrysler and Daimler-Chrysler can be reborn, confusing the hell out of everyone.

 

[mgescuro]

Same holds true here, but with Rover (and to a much much much lesser extent, Daimler and Lanchester) -- which has only been off the market for a few years.

Daimler's still used in Europe by Jaguar. Lanchester hasn't been around for 60+ years.

I say they should keep todays PREMIUM LWB XJ around as a DAIMLER when the next XJ is introduced. Its a BEAUTIFUL car that deserves to remain on the market in some form. Just give it the FLUTED EDGED grill work on a larger chrome grill unique to the Daimler brand.

THat's exactly what the Daimler is today.
I don't see why the new XJ wouldn't have the Daimler to top off the line. It is available in the US but not under the Daimler nameplate.

 

[tgagneguam]

i think they should merge with Chrysler and Daimler-Chrysler can be reborn, confusing the hell out of everyone.

Funny stuff...

 

[usa1]

i think they should merge with Chrysler and Daimler-Chrysler can be reborn, confusing the hell out of everyone.

:lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:

 

[ChevroletRevived]

The way the Chinese will get into the market is doing something exactly like this; buying up a trusted or recognizable name. If the auto companies were smart, they'd make sure not to sell to these companies.

 

[mgescuro]

The way the Chinese will get into the market is doing something exactly like this; buying up a trusted or recognizable name. If the auto companies were smart, they'd make sure not to sell to these companies.

Feel free to buy Oldsmobile or Oakland or Bedford. GM could use the cash.

 

[crooner214]

I can't wait to buy a Lanchester, that name just rolls right off the tongue!

 

[ChevroletRevived]

Feel free to buy Oldsmobile or Oakland or Bedford. GM could use the cash.

If would if I had it!

 

[skylark68]

A reborn Chinese MG and a reborn Indian Rover would make things really fun in the auto scene.

I like my British cars Asian...

 

[Uzzy]

Feel free to buy Oldsmobile or Oakland or Bedford. GM could use the cash.

I can't wait for the new Lasalles. :dro:

 

[Titanic]

The colonies fight back. First the U.S. has the brands, now India--either South Africa or Australia may be the next buyers.

 

[Avalanche13]

Feel free to buy Oldsmobile or Oakland or Bedford. GM could use the cash.

You know I really think Oldsmobile would have been the perfect brand to rebadge Holden products into. It fits with Oldsmobile's "classier muscle cars" image as the Holdens are conservative performance cars.

 

[Stéphane Dumas]

The colonies fight back. First the U.S. has the brands, now India--either South Africa or Australia may be the next buyers.

Add Canada to the mix from 1759 (date when Britain won the battle of Abraham plains near Quebec City against France) to 1867, Canada was a British colony

 

[slowinthefastlane]

What? Ford didn't throw in the "Edsel" too?

 

[wescoent]

I say they should keep todays PREMIUM LWB XJ around as a DAIMLER when the next XJ is introduced. Its a BEAUTIFUL car that deserves to remain on the market in some form. Just give it the FLUTED EDGED grill work on a larger chrome grill unique to the Daimler brand.

 

[wildgoosechase]

I can't wait for a Studebaker, an Nash or a Packard.

 

[kenman923]

It's appropriate for Tata have the names such as Rover and Daimler. If Mercedes Benz bought Jaguar and Land Rover, they could have become Daimler-Rover.