A farmer whose Land Rover order was cancelled because he is “associated with a car retailer” has expressed his dismay that his vehicle of choice has been denied him, and the price has now gone up by several thousand pounds.

The young farmer’s grandfather, who is a retired car salesman, ordered and paid a deposit for two new Defenders in August 2021 from Taggarts Land Rover Glasgow North.

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The dealership informed the pair just before Christmas that it would not be fulfilling the order because of the family’s involvement in the motor trade, as it risked breaking the franchise agreement with Land Rover.

The young farmer’s father sells cars in Cumbria, and Taggarts terms of service says it can cancel an order if it believes the buyer intends to sell the vehicle for “commercial gain” within six months.

But the 20-year-old, who asked not to be named, insists he will be using the Defender on the smallholding he manages in Cumbria purely for farm work, including moving livestock and other haulage tasks.

His grandfather will keep and drive the other Defender and help his grandson on a part-time basis.

‘Hard times’

The pair said they explained this to the dealership in August last year and the order was agreed.

“We’re having a hard enough time at the farm paying bills and I’ve said to them we will sign agreements, because we don’t want to sell the vehicles. We want them for ourselves, to get some work done,” the young farmer said.

“Yes, my family are involved with the motor trade, but I am not. I do farm haulage work and help my friend out building agricultural sheds. They [the dealers] are putting in my family name and it is coming up as ‘motor traders’, but they can’t tar me with the same brush.”

The Land Rover Defenders in question now command a recommended retail price of about £63,000 each, which is several thousand pounds more than the farmer agreed to pay last August.

He is therefore seeking recompense to cover the difference, and compensation to account for the fact it will take many more months to secure replacement vehicles through another dealer. He has also threatened legal action.

Deposit

Taggarts Land Rover Glasgow North said it has offered to return the deposit of £1,000 the grandfather paid for both vehicles.

An email from the Taggarts dealership to the farmer, seen by Farmers Weekly, said: “As we have previously advised you, we are unable to sell you the two brand-new vehicles you ordered because our due diligence has revealed you are associated with a car retailer.

“As well as information from Companies House, we also are aware the telephone number you have supplied is related to an eBay seller of vehicles.

“In the circumstances we are therefore not able to sell you the two vehicles, as to do so risks breaching our franchise agreement with the manufacturer.”

Jaguar Land Rover declined Farmers Weekly’s request for comment.