Land Rover’s heritage began in 1948 when the Rover Company’s development division at Solihull, England, introduced the Series I, designed by Maurice Wilks and inspired by military Jeep platforms. The Series I combined lightweight aluminum alloy body panels with permanent four-wheel drive, appealing to agricultural and industrial customers. In 1970, Land Rover launched the Range Rover Classic, offering luxury appointments, coil-spring suspension, and permanent all-wheel drive—ushering in the luxury SUV segment. Key models include the Discovery (1989), Freelander (1997; relaunched as Discovery Sport), and the all-new Defender (2020), featuring an aluminum monocoque chassis and advanced off-road technologies. Today, under Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Motors, Land Rover sold over 500,000 SUVs in 2023, spanning Discovery, Range Rover, Evoque, Velar, and Defender ranges. The original Defender’s ladder-frame and solid-axle architecture made it a legend in expeditionary and military use worldwide.