Jaguar sales jump by 34%

JAGUAR Land Rover (JLR) has seen more good news with both brands enjoying strong sales during February, latest figures show.

Sales of new Jaguars rose 34% year-on-year last month with its 4×4 stablemate seeing a similar performance, up 33.6% during the same period.

The figures are a further boost to the Indian-owned firm, which has more than 2,000 workers at Halewood making the Evoque.

Elsewhere, Ford maintained its position as the biggest seller with a market share a shade off 15%, however, nearest rival Vauxhall – which makes the Astra at Ellesmere Port – also had a good month; new registrations rising 26% year-on-year.

JLR rivals BMW and Mercedes Benz saw mixed results. The former saw registrations rise just 0.9% to 3,276 units, while the latter increased 14% to 3,382. BMW-owned Mini also saw a disappointing month with its figures down almost 11% at 1,124 units.

Overall, February was another good year for the UK automotive industry, as figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show new registrations increasing almost 8% to 66,749.

Mike Baunton, SMMT interim chief executive, said: “UK new car registrations have risen every month for the last year with February continuing the trend, growing 7.9% year-on-year boosted by the highest increase in private consumer demand since spring 2010.

“However, February is traditionally a low volume month as motorists look forward to the plate-change in March, but attractive new car deals are sustaining the market. New models are delivering ever greater fuel efficiency, practicality, refinement, technology and predictable ownership costs, so motorists are seeing the benefit of new car purchases.”