The Land Rover is celebrating 70 years of partnership between the Defender and the British Red Cross, one of the oldest charity institutions.
Introduced worldwide at the Amsterdam Motor Show in April 1948, the Defender was put into service by the Red Cross and Red Crescent in 1954. It has been 70 years since that first vehicle, a model specially designed for use as a mobile medical dispensary, was put into service in the Dubai desert.
Seven decades later, the current Defender continues its commitment to support communities in crisis with the announcement of its latest flagship project in Italy, where the world’s largest humanitarian organization was born 160 years ago.
To commemorate the birth of this movement, a specially equipped Defender 130 was delivered to the Italian Red Cross for emergency response. This model of the Defender integrates advanced satellite communication equipment to provide continuous nationwide access in some of the most difficult and disaster-affected areas in the country.
“The long-standing partnership between the Defender and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement demonstrates what can be achieved when we work towards a common cause with a lasting commitment. To date, our partnership with the British Red Cross and IFRC has assisted over two million people worldwide. The aid that began in the Dubai desert and the forest villages of Kenya in 1954 has become part of our DNA. Together, we provide vital assistance to humanity, often in demanding terrains and the most complex conditions. I hope we continue to help those in need for another seven decades,” said Mark Cameron, Managing Director of Defender.
This year, the Defender will participate in a series of celebrations and fundraising initiatives to support the association and showcase its international work.
Currently, the Land Rover model actively participates in six international projects, in the United Kingdom, Nepal, Italy, Australia, Switzerland, and Morocco.
