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New models drive Jaguar Land Rover sales growth

Luxury car maker Jaguar Land Rover saw sales rise 11.9 per cent last month.

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The Range Rover Velar has helped drive sales growth

The business, which has its engine manufacturing centre at the i54 to the north of Wolverhampton, sold 45,180 vehicles in the month.

Sales were primarily driven by the introduction of new models including the Range Rover Velar, which won the 2018 World Car Design of the Year award, Land Rover Discovery and the Jaguar e-Pace.

For the year to April JLR sales were down 0.9 per cent at 217,889.

It sold 31,891 Land Rover models in April – up 13.6 per cent – and 13,289 Jaguars - up eight per cent.

Retail sales for April were up significantly year-on-year in China at 28.9 per cent, the UK (25.9 per cent) and North America (2.5 per cent), but down in Europe by 10.2 per cent.

They were affected by the continuing uncertainty over diesel in the UK and Europe.

Felix Brautigam, JLR chief commercial officer, said: “Retail sales in April reflect strong interest in our new models. Jaguar sales have been further boosted by the introduction of the exciting e-Pace compact sports utility vehicle. There is also high demand for the new Jaguar i-Pace, the first all-electric performance SUV.

“In the month of its 70th anniversary, strong Land Rover retail sales were assisted by the completely refreshed Range Rover and Range Rover Sport line-up, including our plug-in hybrid option. Demand for the Range Rover Velar, the freshly crowned world car design of the year 2018, remains buoyant.

“It's pleasing to see a marked improvement in the UK. This is mainly due to two all-new models now being on the market but also an artificially low April 2017 caused by taxation changes. The legislative uncertainty around diesel and the resulting lower demand in the UK and Europe continue to have a negative impact on our business.”

Jaguar sales were supported by sales of the new long-wheelbase XEL from the company’s joint venture in China. This success was partially offset by lower sales of the f-Pace and other models. The Jaguar i-Pace is now available to order with retail deliveries expected to begin this summer.

JLR is the UK’s largest automotive manufacturer and employs more than 43,000 people globally and supports around 240,000 more through its retailer network, suppliers and local businesses.

In 2017 JLR sold 621,109 vehicles in 130 countries, with more than 80 per cent of vehicles being sold abroad. It spent more than £4 billion last year on new product creation and capital expenditure.