DETROIT — When Tata Motors of India acquired the Jaguar and Land Rover brands in 2008, the deal added a new twist to the rapid globalization of the auto industry.

It raised an intriguing question: Could a fledgling Indian automaker, albeit one with a huge parent company, make British luxury sedans and sport utility vehicles primarily for sale to wealthy, and discriminating, American consumers?

The answer, so far, has been yes. Global sales of Jaguars and Land Rovers have more than doubled since the buyout, and the brands combined to produce $1 billion in pretax profits for Tata in its most recent quarter.

In fact, Tata’s acquisition of the brands for $2.3 billion from a then financially ailing Ford Motor looks like a bargain today.