Record sales for Jaguar Land Rover despite tougher trading conditions

Despite tough conditions in some key markets, Jaguar Land Rover has announced record sales results – selling more than 600,000 vehicles in a calendar year for the first time in its history.

For 2017, global sales reached 621,109 vehicles (2016: 583,313), a 7% increase on the prior year – and more than triple the 2009 figure (the company’s first full year under Tata Motors’ ownership).

The figures are in sharp contrast to the decline seen in the UK last year, but reflective of the continued global appeal of the brand, especially in markets such as China.

However, the company has warned 2018 will be a challenging one for the business as it looks to combat ever-toughening conditions and diesel taxation.

The company, the UK’s largest car manufacturer, said its seventh successive year of sales growth was driven by the introduction of new models into new and existing segments, increased uptake of its Wolverhampton-manufactured Ingenium clean diesel and petrol engines and the expansion of its manufacturing operations around the world to increase capacity.

Jaguar sales were up 20% for the year, at 178,601 vehicles. This was the brand’s strongest ever full-year performance and was driven by sales of the Jaguar F-PACE, XE and XF, including the all new XF Sportbrake.

Land Rover also achieved a new record, notching up 442,508 global sales – a 2% increase on 2016.

The best-seller for the year was the Discovery Sport, with sales of 126,078 vehicles. Also notable were sales for the Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Sport, which together sold more than 190,000 vehicles in 2017.

Growth in China and the United States helped offset the impact of difficult market conditions in the European, UK and Overseas markets.

China was the company’s largest sales region in 2017 with annual sales of 146,399, up 23% year-on-year. North America reported a calendar year record with sales of 128,097, 9% up on the previous high in 2016.

Despite the tough market in the UK, sales still reached a combined 117,748 vehicles, putting 2017 on a par with the 2016 record.

Similarly, JLR’s retail sales in Europe were 138,643, also in line with the previous year despite difficult market conditions in the region.

Sales were down 0.5% down in other Overseas markets.

Andy Goss, Jaguar Land Rover Group Sales Operations Director, said: “We have once again delivered year-on-year sales increases thanks to a world-class product range and new models such as the E-PACE and Velar, as well as China-specific models such as the XFL.

“But we are facing tough times in key markets such as the UK where consumer confidence and diesel taxes will hit us.”

Looking ahead to 2018, Mr Goss said: “While there will be further challenges facing our industry, there are also exciting times ahead for Jaguar Land Rover. We continue to over proportionally invest in delivering clean, safe, smart technologies and new vehicles to our customers.”

This year sales are expected to ramp up for new models including Jaguar’s new E-PACE compact performance SUV, the refreshed Range Rover and Range Rover Sport (including plug-in hybrid models) and the Jaguar I-PACE electric performance SUV.

Close