April 10, 2013: Jaguar Land Rover has announced its sales numbers for the first quarter of 2013. With sales of 53,772 units in March and 115,504 units for the January-March 2013 period, the carmaker has recorded its best ever monthly and quarterly global sales performance, up 16 percent and 17 percent respectively compared to the previous year.
With sales of 9,856 units in March, Jaguar notched 28 percent growth for the month; its first quarter sales comprising 20,210 units were up 31 percent. Land Rover, meanwhile, delivered the best single month and quarter in its 65-year history with March sales of 43,916 units, up 14 percent and Q1 sales of 95,294 units, up 15 percent year on year.
Phil Popham, Group Sales Operations Director for Jaguar Land Rover, said: "Jaguar Land Rover has had a record-breaking start to the year and is seeing continued year-on-year growth following the introduction of new models, engines and drivetrains with the Jaguar XF Sportbrake, new Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque amongst our top-selling models.”
March sales highlights
Jaguar Land Rover had a record month in the UK with sales of 17,784, up 14 percent on the previous best set in March 2012. Jaguar sales were up 21 percent, primarily reflecting a 25 percent increase in XF sales with the XF Sportbrake accounting for 23 percent of all UK Jaguar sales. Land Rover sold 14,268 units, up 12 percent with continued strong demand across the range with the Freelander up 45 percent, Range Rover up 43 percent and Range Rover Evoque up 9 percent.
China delivered its best ever month retailing 8,487 units collectively, up 22 percent. While Jaguar sold a record 1,592 cars, up 91 percent, Land Rover sales were up 13 percent with 6,895 vehicles sold.
North America too delivered its best March performance since 2006 with sales of 6,453, up 7 percent. Jaguar sold 1,554 vehicles, up 11 percent with strong demand for the XF. Land Rover too had a good month selling 4,899 vehicles, up 5 percent and reflecting a new monthly sales record for the Evoque, up 47 percent and continued strong demand for the Range Rover Sport.
In Europe, despite economic uncertainty, sales were up 11 percent. Both brands had record March sales in Austria and Germany. In Austria, Jaguar was up 50 percent and Land Rover was up 70 percent. In Germany, Jaguar and Land Rover were up 51 percent and 16 percent respectively. Strong growth was also witnessed in Italy up 36 percent and Netherlands up 34 percent.
Sales are also up in other overseas and developing markets. Best month records were set in Brazil (up 136 percent), Korea (up 74 percent, India (up 28 percent) and Russia (up 9 percent). Best March performances were recorded in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA, up 60 percent) and South Africa (up 39 percent).
Big-ticket investments
Jaguar Land Rover has ambitious plans for sustainable growth and profitability. It is to invest £ 2.75 billion (Rs 22,970 crore) in its products and facilities in 2013-14. Last month, at the Geneva Motor Show, the Tata Motors-owned carmaker said it will increase its investment in its new Engine Manufacturing Centre in Wolverhampton to more than £500 million (Rs 4,176 crore) and create an additional 700 jobs. It had previously committed £350 million (Rs 2,923 crore) and 750 jobs to the new plant.
Speaking at the show, JLR's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ralf Speth confirmed that eight new or revised models will join the line-up for 2013. They include the Jaguar F-Type (which won the 2013 World Car Design of the Year award) and the introduction of the world's first nine-speed gearbox (by ZF) in its Land Rover product line-up.
In India, Jaguar Land Rover recorded a 32 percent growth in wholesales in 2012 at 2,393 cars compared with 1,813 cars in the previous year. On January 21 this year, the company began production of the XF saloon at its plant in the outskirts of Pune. The initial Pune-built Jaguar XF models feature the company’s 2.2-litre diesel engine, which has been introduced to the Indian market. The Jaguars are built alongside the Land Rover Freelander 2 which has been produced at the Pune plant since May 2011.
Jaguar’s Top 5 Markets for Q1
UK – 4,989 (up 25%)
China Region – 4,143 (up 98%)
North America – 3,855 (up 11%)
Germany – 1,273 (up 54%)
MENA –790 (up 32%)
Land Rover’s Top 5 markets for Q1
UK – 20,714 (up 17%)
China Region – 17, 584 (up 11%)
North America – 13,758 (up 17%)
Germany – 4,543 (up 19%)
Russia – 4,500 (up 4%)