Land Rover fights for Swiss role
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• Has Land Rover lost an .85 million order to supply long-wheelbase 110 models to the Swiss Army? Confusion currently surrounds the Solihull-based 4 x4 manufacturer, following conflicting stories in the national press last week. On Friday 29 August, the Daily Mail reported that LR had lost out in the race to supply the Swiss Army with over 4,000 vehicles to Austrian builder Steyr Daimler Puch, which builds the Mercedes G Wagen for Daimler-Benz.
The next day, however, in the Financial Tinges, the company denied it had lost the contract to Steyr, with Austin Rover's manager of business affairs Colin Walkey "No formal decision has been taken on the contract. No decision will be taken before the end of the year."
Steyr Daimler Puch and Daimler-Benz are keeping tight-lipped over the whole affair, but it is thought that both companies are waiting for an impending statement from the Swiss Army which will clear the way for them to announce that they have won the prestigious order.
LR has reacted angrily to suggestions that it has lost out to Steyr Daimler Puch, because its vee-eight petrolengined 110 long-wheelbase Land Rover cannot meet tough Swiss exhaust emission requirements.
Land Rover was originally awarded the contract to supply the Swiss Army with 4,100 110s over six years, beginning in 1990, but the contract was cancelled in 1985, so the successful company could demonstrate its ability to meet more stringent emission levels.
Since then Land Rover and Stery Daimler Puch have both supplied vehicles for retesting, with the revised 110 model fitted with catalytic convertors to meet the Swiss Army's requirements.