JLR 2013 sales rise by nearly one-fifth

JaguarLandRover (JLR) boosted sales in 2013 by nearly 20 per cent to 425,006 units, its strongest ever full-year global sales performance.

JLR, the UK's leading manufacturer of premium luxury vehicles, witnessed full year retail sales up 19%, with strong growth in all major regions. The company set new records in 38 markets, including Russia, Brazil, Korea and Canada.

Regional performance for the full year was: Asia Pacific and the China region up 30%, North America up 21%, the UK up 14%, Europe up 6%, and other overseas markets up 23%.

JLR’s enhanced stable of products received 195 awards in 2013. Jaguar received 80 awards with its most decorated model, the F-Type earning the World Car Design of the Year, Germany’s most prestigious award, The Golden Steering Wheel award for the Cabriolet & Coupe Category and BBC Topgear magazine Convertible of the year.

Land Rover’s full range of vehicles received 115 honours in 2013 with Range Rover topping the Land Rover awards table with 55 accolades.

Jaguar recorded a 42% year-on-year increase in sales, selling 76,668 vehicles in 2013 - its strongest full year sales performance since 2005 with new records set in 17 markets including, Brazil, India, Russia and China.

This strong global performance was primarily driven by a new annual record for XF retailing 47,391 saloon and Sportbrake derivatives. XJ also delivered its best full year performance for ten years with 19,677 vehicle sales with particular strong demand from North America and China thanks to the introduction of the All-Wheel Driveline and an enhanced engine line up which includes the 3.0 V6 and 2.0 4-cylinder petrol engines.

Land Rover set a new full year sales record retailing 348,338 vehicles in 2013, up 15% on the prior year following record sales of the Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque. The all-new Range Rover Sport came close to equalling its prior record set in 2007, despite having only been on sale for part of the year. The Freelander 2 also delivered a very strong full year performance, up 20% on the prior year. This will be phased out before long and replaced by the ‘Baby Discovery’

Full-year regional performances were: Asia Pacific up 29%, the China Region up 17%, North America up 15%, the UK up 13%, Europe up 4%, and other overseas markets up 22%.

JLR now awaits the impact of the arrival of the new Hotfire diesel and gasoline engines to be made in Wolverhampton and which are expected to add a new edge to the company’s product line and further boost sales.                                    ∎