JLR sales recover at end of 2020

Sales for the quarter were 128,469 – up 13.1 per cent on the 113,569 cars sold from July to September.

They were down nine per cent on October to December 2019.

Sales in China were particularly encouraging, up 20.2 per cent on the quarter and 19.1 per cent year-on-year.

In North America they were up 31.7 per cent on the quarter and 2-.5 per cent in Europe.

The new Land Rover Defender saw a 66 per cent improvement with 16,286 vehicles sold in the October to December quarter from the previous three months.

For Jaguar, sales of the ward-winning all-electric I-PACE were up 69.3 per cent year-on-year with 7,807 sold in the quarter, as demand for electric vehicles continues to grow.

For 220 overall JLR sales were 425,974, down 23.6 per cent% on 2019, reflecting the impact of Covid-19 particularly in the first half of the year when plants were shut down for more than two months.

The share of electrified cars in the company’s sales for 2020 was 53 per cent with that figure poised for further growth in 2021 and beyond.

Felix Brautigam, JLR chief commercial officer, said: "2020 was a year of two halves and, although Covid-19 continues to significantly impact the global auto industry, we are delighted to end the year with a second consecutive quarter of sales recovery.

"Our performance in China, the region least impacted by Covid-19 in the most recent quarter, has been particularly encouraging with our sales there growing on both a year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter basis. Other markets are also showing strong signs of recovery, despite second Covid waves across the globe.

"We are well-placed in keeping our retailers open for business with online sales solutions, even when their doors are closed through lockdowns."

JLR, which has its engine manufacturing centre at the i54, north of Wolverhampton, is the UK’s largest automotive manufacturer.