Jaguar Land Rover India expects to return to double-digit growth in FY27 after a year of largely flat volumes, betting on a strong order backlog, a major retail expansion programme and its most active product pipeline in recent years.
"We have plans. We believe we can grow 20-25%," Rajan Amba, Managing Director, JLR India, said during an interaction with Autocar Professional.
The confidence stems from three key factors: an order backlog equivalent to four to six months of sales, plans to add 11 new retail outlets during FY27, and a broader flow of new products after several years of relatively limited launches.
Management believes the growth outlook for FY27 and beyond is more significant than the performance of the past year.
The Range Rover Electric, future Jaguar products and additional derivatives across the Range Rover and Defender families are expected to expand the portfolio and provide the company with a steadier flow of product introductions.
The company currently operates at around the 6,000-unit level annually and believes a combination of new products, network expansion and sustained demand for its high-end SUV portfolio could help it cross the 10,000-unit mark over the next three to five years.
"I think we can certainly aim to double from where we are today," Amba said.
The outlook comes despite a challenging FY26.
According to Amba, a combination of factors, including geopolitical tensions, uncertainty surrounding trade agreements and a cyber incident that affected global operations, disrupted momentum at various points during the year.
"Every time momentum started building, something happened that interrupted it," he said.
Yet demand remained resilient. JLR exited the year with a healthy order book and continued to see strong traction for its flagship SUV portfolio, particularly the Defender, which remains one of the brand's strongest-performing models.
While volumes remained broadly flat, the mix continued to move upmarket. Average transaction values have now crossed ₹1 crore, reflecting strong demand for higher-end products such as the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Defender. The shift has helped revenue grow faster than volumes and reinforced the premium positioning of the brand in India.
JLR also plans one of its largest retail expansion programmes in recent years, with 11 new outlets slated to open during FY27 after only limited additions in the previous growth cycle. The expansion is aimed at improving access for customers in both established luxury markets and emerging high-net-worth centres beyond the metros.
India's growing importance within JLR has been earned over time, Amba said. A few years ago, the company's headquarters began allocating greater resources and product support to the market. Every time India received additional allocation or investment, the local operation exceeded expectations.
"There was a realisation a few years back that India has the potential," Amba said. "We got something, we gave it back in spades."
That has translated into greater investment, faster access to products and a larger role for India in the company's future plans. Future global launches are expected to reach India within months of their international debut, a sharp contrast to the long delays that historically characterised the market.
India remains a relatively small market within JLR's global operations, but its importance is growing rapidly. With a broader product portfolio, an expanding retail network and a healthy order book, the company believes it has the building blocks to significantly increase volumes over the next three to five years and move beyond the 10,000-unit annual sales mark.