SALES ACCELERATE AT JLR DESPITE COVID-19 HIT

Jaguar Land Rover’s sales significantly improved during its second quarter but continued to be impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, new figures have revealed.

The Coventry-headquartered automotive giant has revealed sales for the three-month period to 30 September 2020 of 113,569 vehicles, a rise of 53.3 per cent from its first quarter.

However, its second quarter performance was down 11.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2019.

Land Rover’s sales totalled 86,222 cars, a rise of 56 per cent compared to Q1 but a 5.9 per cent drop on the same time last year.

Jaguar’s sales were 27,347, up 45.6 per cent on Q1 but a 26.7 per cent fall compared to Q2 in 2019.

JLR added that the vehicle manufacturing plants at Solihull, Halewood and Nitra in Slovakia, as well as the Engine Manufacturing Centre outside of Wolverhampton, have now increased to a two-shift pattern to meet increasing demand.

The company is set to release its financial results for the second quarter later this month.

Chief commercial officer Felix Brautigam said: “Covid-19 and second lockdowns continue to impact the global auto industry but we are pleased to see sales recovering across our markets.

“In China, the first region to come out of lockdown, our performance has been particularly encouraging.

“But we are also seeing strong improvement versus the preceding quarter in other key markets, with sales up more than 50 per cent worldwide.

“The recovery has been demand-led and we are delighted that we have been able to reduce stocks to achieve ideal levels in most markets, despite the ongoing pandemic, to support a healthier and more profitable business for Jaguar Land Rover and its retailers.

“During the quarter we continued our ambitious roll-out of electrification to meet recovering demand.

“This included the launch of plug-in hybrid versions of the Range Rover Evoque, Land Rover Discovery Sport and Defender.

“In addition, our brand new smooth, torque-rich six-cylinder diesel with mild-hybrid technology debuted in the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport.”