Is the Land Rover Discovery a Ford?
No. The Land Rover Discovery is not a Ford. It is a model from Land Rover, the British brand that is part of Jaguar Land Rover, which is owned by Tata Motors. Ford once owned Land Rover for a period, but that ownership ended in 2008.
To understand why this question arises, it helps to know the ownership history of the brand. Ford did briefly own Land Rover as part of its Premier Automotive Group in the 2000s, but in 2008 Tata Motors acquired Jaguar Land Rover. Since then, the Discovery has been developed and produced under Land Rover, a Tata-backed company, rather than Ford.
Historical ownership and the Discovery lineage
Key ownership shifts that have shaped the Discovery lineup are summarized in the timeline below.
- 2000: Ford acquires the Rover Group, bringing Land Rover into Ford's Premier Automotive Group (PAG).
- 2008: Ford sells Jaguar Land Rover to Tata Motors, ending Ford's direct ownership of Land Rover.
- 2008–present: Jaguar Land Rover operates under Tata Motors, continuing to develop Land Rover models, including the Discovery family.
- 2017–present: Discovery 5 (the fifth generation) is introduced and remains in production under Land Rover/Tata ownership.
These shifts explain why the Discovery is not a Ford; Ford’s involvement ended more than a decade ago, and today the Discovery is a Land Rover product owned by Tata Motors.
Current status of the Discovery lineup
As of 2025, the Land Rover Discovery remains a core model in the Land Rover family. The current generation, Discovery 5, launched in 2017 and has since received updates to keep pace with modern SUV tech and safety features. It is produced by Land Rover, under the Jaguar Land Rover umbrella owned by Tata Motors, and is marketed globally as a distinct model from any Ford lineup.
Summary
The Land Rover Discovery is not a Ford. While Ford once owned Land Rover in the early 2000s, ownership transferred to Tata Motors in 2008, and Land Rover has operated independently of Ford since then. The Discovery continues to be produced by Land Rover as part of Tata’s Jaguar Land Rover group, currently in its fifth generation and widely available around the world.
Is Land Rover owned by Ford?
No, Ford does not own Land Rover; India's Tata Motors acquired Land Rover from Ford in 2008. Tata Motors then merged it with Jaguar to form Jaguar Land Rover Limited.
- Ford's ownership: Ford owned both Jaguar and Land Rover for a period but sold them to Tata Motors in 2008 to focus on its turnaround plan.
- Tata Motors' acquisition: Tata Motors bought the brands and created a new subsidiary, Jaguar Land Rover, under which both continue to operate.
- Ongoing connection: While ownership has changed, the legacy continues in some engineering, as Ford provided some components and transitional support to Tata Motors after the sale, say The New York Times and The New York Times.
Who makes a Land Rover Discovery?
The Land Rover Discovery is made by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), which is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors. While Land Rover is a British manufacturer with its primary plants in the UK, the Discovery is also assembled in other locations, including Slovakia, Brazil, and China, to serve global markets.
- Jaguar Land Rover (JLR): The brand Land Rover is part of this company, which was formed when Tata Motors unified Jaguar and Land Rover in 2013.
- Tata Motors: An Indian automotive company that owns Jaguar Land Rover.
- Global production: The Discovery is primarily manufactured in the United Kingdom, but other plants in Slovakia, Brazil, and China also build the vehicle.
Is the Land Rover Discovery made by Ford?
Tata Motors is the company who makes Land Rover. They acquired the brand from Ford in 2008, and since they took over, sales of Land Rover SUVs have increased dramatically. They've even started the process of electrifying the Land Rover lineup.
Does Land Rover use Ford parts?
Yes, Land Rover previously used Ford parts and platforms while it was owned by Ford, and some shared components and engines are still in use today. Although Ford sold Land Rover to Tata Motors in 2008, the legacy of that shared engineering period continues in some models.
Shared platforms and engines
- Platforms: Land Rover's Freelander 2 used the Ford EUCD platform, and other later models have been derived from it, such as the D8 platform used for the Evoque and Discovery Sport.
- Engines:
- The 2.2-liter diesel engine in the Freelander 2 was made by Ford under their Duratorq line.
- The Freelander 2 also used a Ford-sourced inline-6 petrol engine.
- The 4.4L V8 engine found in some Land Rover models, like the LR3, was largely developed under Ford's ownership.
- Component sharing: Ford and Land Rover also shared parts like the 4.0L V6 engine in some Explorer models.
The current situation
- No longer a current relationship: Land Rover is no longer owned by Ford and is now part of Tata Motors' Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) company.
- Ongoing legacy: Despite the sale, some Land Rover models continue to use platforms and components developed during the time it was under Ford ownership, although newer models have their own distinct engineering.
