Land Rover builds 250,000th Freelander 2
28.03.2011 - Andy Goodwin
(4)
The 250,000th Land Rover Freelander 2 has just rolled off its production line at the Halewood plant in Merseyside.
Production of the Freelander 2 began in 2007, but sales show no sign of slowing. In fact, in part thanks to the harshest winter since records began, they increased by 22 per cent between April 2010 and February, compared with the same period a year before.
With a starting price of £21,995 the Freelander 2 is an affordable compact 4x4, which competes with models including the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Kia Sportage. The smallest Land Rover model is available with two- or four-wheel drive combined with a 2.2-litre diesel engine. It's a strong performer, thanks to 150bhp in TD4 models and 190bhp in the SD4.
Around 70 per cent of Freelanders are exported outside of the UK. Halewood operations director Richard Else said: "This milestone achievement and the increasing sales for Freelander 2 highlights just how important this vehicle is, not just to Halewood but also for the regional and UK economy."
The Freelander 2 will soon be joined by the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, which will also be built at the Halewood plant. An additional 1,500 staff are being hired in order to meet demand, with the Evoque winning industry and press awards before it even goes on sale in summer.
