Land Rover could "in time" share some UK retail sites with other brands in the Ford Premier Automotive Group, according to Land Rover UK managing director Mike Wright.

PAG chairman Wolfgang Reitzle has hinted at long-term rationalisation objectives Mr Wright assured his dealers no immediate shake-up was planned but this was the first public comment about such a plan by a UK executive within PAG.

Land Rover's 130 dealers have recently finished a major upgrade, each investing an average of £1m, and Mr Wright said: "You do not quickly and easily embark on another new programme."

In support of the launch of Freelander, Land Rover dealers re-organised, expanded and in some cases relocated. Mr Wright said: "There will be some areas where Jaguar, Aston Martin, Land Rover and perhaps Volvo might benefit from co-operation. If an opportunity arises and it suits everyone, we will probably do it.

"But it will evolve and not be forced. We are sitting within Ford alongside Jaguar, Aston Martin and Volvo, meeting and sharing ideas on strong brand development. With Jaguar we make two eminently successful parallel businesses."