JLR car sales show strong growth

BOTH Jaguar and Land Rover have enjoyed strong starts to the year with sales of the vehicles up by more than 30% in January compared with the same month in 2012.

 

While Land Rover has got used to an almost unbroken spell of success – sales aided in January by increased demand due to the snow and icy weather – sales of Jaguar’s cars have suffered in comparison.

 

However, Indian owner Tata Motors will be cheered by the latest figures which show that Jaguar’s sales were up 32% last month with 1,207 cars sold (2012: 915).

 

With the launch of the XF Sportsbrake last autumn and the sales debut of the F-Type set for the summer, it is the turn of Castle Bromwich to be optimistic.

 

Land Rover’s sales for the month were 4,665 (2012: 3,492), an increase of 33.6%.

 

Both brands outperformed the market, which got off to an encouraging start with new registrations up 11.5% on the same month last year.

 

Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show Ford sales were down more than 2% but the firm retained its top spot, aided by the best-selling Fiesta.

 

Vauxhall saw its sales climb more than 50% to secure second place, with Volkswagen and Audi climbing third and fourth places.

 

BMW’s sales were a little more restrained, up just 0.48% on last year, although the group saw Mini sales grow more than 4%.

 

Mike Baunton, interim chief executive of the SMMT, said: “The new car market has started the year confidently with registrations climbing 11.5% in January.

 

“Lifted by a solid rise in private demand, the new car market posted its 11th successive month of growth with motorists attracted to forecourts by the latest models and competitive deals on offer. Building on a strong performance in 2012, SMMT has increased its market forecast – we anticipate a modest rise over the year, followed by further growth in 2014.”

 

John Leech, UK head of automotive at KPMG, said the figures suggested that with company and fleet sales down, it was UK consumers who were powering the sector’s recovery .

 

“The picture is very different across the English Channel. Germany saw new car sales drop 9%, France saw a 15% drop and Italy an 18% drop in January 2013. Car companies are therefore targeting the comparatively buoyant car market in the UK, with larger than normal discounts to keep factories busy,” he said.

“It also reflects a return to the new car market by customers who had switched to used cars during the recession. This may soon impact the UK’s used car market, which has been booming, and enjoying record high prices. Dealers and fleet managers need to take care that there may be downward price realignment in the used car market in 2013. I believe prices could potentially fall by as much as 5% over the next 12 months.”