Evoque powers sales growth at Jaguar Land Rover

LAND Rover saw record global sales in February with volumes driven by strong demand for the new Range Rover Evoque.

Figures released today by Jaguar Land Rover owner Tata Motors show worldwide sales of the 4×4 vehicles was 28,029 last month, a 52% rise compared with February 2011 and the company’s best-ever monthly performance.

The figures coincide with JLR’s announcement this week that it is to recruit an additional 1,000 people at its Halewood plant on Merseyside to work on production of the new Evoque and the Freelander 2.

Component suppliers around the UK have welcomed the announcement, which is likely to see volumes of business within the JLR supply chain remain buoyant.

Tata said JLR’s global sales as a whole in February were 32,257 vehicles, a 49% increase on February 2011.

Jaguar’s sales for the month were 4,228, up by 32% on the same month last year and a sharp contrast to the situation in the UK where new registrations declined by almost 13%.

JLR’s cumulative sales during the fiscal year-to-date are 277,962, higher by 27% on 2011. Cumulative sales of Jaguar are 48,696, down 1% on the previous year. However, in sharp contrast, cumulative sales of Land Rover stand at 229,266, up 35%.

The impressive performance makes it easier to understand why the company is so keen to roll out its global production operation as quickly as possible.

The company is thought to be close to announcing plans for its new joint venture operation in China, which will see it most likely link up with domestic vehicle manufacturer Chery.

Reports earlier this month suggested the two companies were seeking regulatory approval from the Chinese authorities for a £1.75bn operation in eastern China.

JLR chief executive Ralf Speth said at the firm’s press conference at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month that the company would be expanding its global production operations into India, China and Brazil.