Land Rover puts Defenders to work supporting emergency services

Land Rover and its sister brand Jaguar have turned over more than 160 vehicles to emergency services working to cope with the coronavirus outbreak. Jaguar Land Rover has sent 57 vehicles, including 27 new Defenders from its press fleet, to the British Red Cross to support its efforts to help vulnerable members of society during the crisis. It is also providing vehicle support to UK Local Resilience Forums, with a range of cars being loaned to NHS and other emergency response teams involved in fighting the virus. In total more than 160 JLR vehicles have been deployed around the world, with Red Cross societies in Australia, Spain, South Africa and France among those taking delivery of donated cars. In the UK, the vehicles will be used by the Red Cross to help deliver food and other aid to vulnerable people affected by the current lockdown. Finbar McFall, Jaguar Land Rover’s customer experience director, said: “The health and safety of our employees, customers and their families remains our priority. “Jaguar and Land Rover will do everything we can to support people in need around the world. Our partnership with the Red Cross goes back 65 years and we will work hand in hand with them to do all we can during this global health emergency. We will also provide help to those closer to home in our local communities. We can all play a part in helping the vulnerable during this global pandemic.” Simon Lewis, head of crisis response for the British Red Cross said: “This unprecedented global health emergency requires us all to pull together. As part of the British Red Cross response to coronavirus, we’re delving deep into the heart of communities across the UK to help strengthen support for the most vulnerable people through delivering essential food parcels and medicines to those unable to get out. “We have been overwhelmed by the kindness shown across the country, not only by our increasing number of volunteers, but also our longstanding partners. Thanks to Land Rover’s generous support, our emergency response teams in the UK will be to reach even more people living in isolated communities than we could alone.” JLR is also among a number of car manufacturers offering engineering expertise and resources, including 3D printing facilities, to help researchers working to combat the impact of the virus. It is also donating protective equipment is being donated to the NHS, including sending wraparound safety glasses to hospitals across the country to protect health service staff.