In this game, it’s normally the automobiles that are the undisputed stars. and that’s the way it must be.
But in the final days of July, the global motor service was a lot more about the people than the metal. I’ve never known a week like it for dramatic developments in motor maker boardrooms, design studios and motor-show HQs.
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The greatest shock was Natarajan Chandrasekaran (of Jaguar Land Rover’s parent company, Tata) naming Frenchman Thierry Bolloré as successor to Germany’s Ralf Speth as CEO at JLR of England.
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Adding to the shock value of Bolloré bouncing into the hot seat at JLR is the fact some ‘experts’ predicted that Denmark’s Hanne Birgitte Breinbjerg Sorensen would land the job. Her loss is his evident gain, and we have to believe he’s got what it takes to get JLR through these tortuous times. until 10 months ago, he was CEO at Renault, and can as a result be mainly thanked for the Clio and Zoe being the biggest-selling ICE and electric automobiles in Europe this summer.
Bolloré’s first task at JLR? Make the company and jobs safe. For me, the next priority is to cut starting prices for the Slovakian-built Defender to nearer £30k for a stripped-out, bog-standard version. task three? A small Landy, plus a baby Jag for the masses.
