LUXURY car maker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) posted a record-breaking month for car sales today.
The group, which employs 4,500 staff at its Halewood plant in Knowsley, revealed that it sold 29,893 vehicles last month, a rise of 14%, including 5,276 in the UK which was a company record.
So far, more than 324,000 vehicles have been sold in the first 11 months of the year, which is a 32% improvement.
The group said November sales showed improvements in almost every major market, with sales in China 43% ahead, a 26% jump in its Asia Pacific region, 15% up in the UK and a 12% improvement in Europe.
However, sales in North America suffered a 7% decline which, the company said, reflected “model year changeover effects and increased competitive conditions”.
Since the start of the year JLR has experienced strong sales overall. In the 11 months to date sales are 73% ahead in China, 37% better throughout Asia Pacific, 20% up in the UK, 37% ahead in Europe, and 12% up in North America.
Phil Popham, JLR’s director of group sales operations, said: “Both Jaguar and Land Rover brands continue to deliver strong sales globally.
“The record breaking performance in our home market, the UK, is great news.”
He said the Midlands-built Jaguar XF is “starting to gain traction in the market place”, while the continued success of the Range Rover Sport and the Halewood-built Evoque is “encouraging”.
Broken down by product, in November Land Rover sold 25,862 vehicles, up 17% compared with the previous year, with increased sales of Range Rover Evoque (39%), Range Rover Sport (3%), Land Rover Discovery (2%) and Halewood’s Freelander (53%).
And since the start of the year, Land Rover has sold more than 275,000 vehicles, up 38% compared with the same period last year.
Meanwhile, Jaguar sold 4,031 vehicles in November, which was down by 5%, in anticipation of the introduction of the 2013 Model Year XF and XJ model ranges, including all-wheel drive and new engine options, across most markets at the end of the year.
In the first 11 months of the year, Jaguar sold 48,908 vehicles, a 7% increase, reflecting the strong performance of the Jaguar XF.
Earlier this year JLR signed a joint venture deal with Chinese car maker Chery aimed at setting up a manufacturing plant in China.
It has also signed an agreement in Saudi Arabia to investigate the possibility of establishing a car plant there, too.
