New product and better engines boost Land Rover sales
LAND Rover has attributed a large year-on-year sales increase to a strong customer response to new models and improved fuel efficiency across its entire range of iconic 4×4 vehicles.
Figures released by the firm, owned by India’s Tata Motors, show that it registered more than 42,000 new vehicles in the UK in 2010 compared to around 33,000 in 2009 – a 28% year-on-year rise.
Sales increased across all models with the Freelander up 37%, Range Rover up 29%, Discovery up 27%, Range Rover Sport up 23% and Defender up 11%.
“An excellent customer response to new 11 Model Year products, together with increased fuel economy across the Land Rover range has been the main driver in the positive sales increase,” said the firm in a statement.
It said the popularity of the Freelander 2 had been enhanced with the introduction of the new TD4_e model; the brand’s most fuel efficient vehicle ever. The vehicle uses Land Rover’s Intelligent Stop Start technology to increase fuel economy and reduce C02 by up to 20% in urban traffic.
The classic Range Rover also performed exceptionally well in its 40th year with 4,069 new registrations in 2010 compared to 3,152 in 2009 (up 29%). The marque’s flagship model received a new TDV8 engine during the year which has seen a 20% improvement in fuel consumption compared with its predecessor.
The year also saw the one millionth Range Rover roll off the production line at Solihull – the vehicle being auctioned off to raise funds for Help for Heroes.
Land Rover UK managing director, Colin Green said: “Increasingly, customers are looking at the bigger picture and considering the overall cost of car ownership before making a purchase decision. Improved fuel economy, combined with excellent residual values, has helped grow Land Rover sales and increase the brand’s share of the UK 4×4 market.
“Whilst the retail environment may remain challenging, 2011 will see us build on last year’s excellent sales results. We will continue to invest in new product, not least with the launch of the new Range Rover Evoque later in the year.”
To coincide with the sales figures, Land Rover has also unveiled the new Evoque to the British public, using the London Boat Show as its platform.
The new Range Rover will be manufactured at Land Rover’s plant in Halewood, where it has created 1,500 new jobs.
Land Rover said hundreds of people had already paid deposits for the Evoque, despite not having seen it in the metal.
