Jaguar Land Rover retail sales in 2018 totalled 592,708 vehicles, down 4.6 per cent compared to 2017’s record year.
The introduction of the Jaguar E-PACE and I-PACE led to Jaguar’s best-ever annual sales results in 2018 up 1.2 per cent to 180,833.
However, this was more than offset by market weakness in China impacting on sales of established models. The lower sales in China (-21.6 per cent) were partially offset by stronger sales in North America 7.2 per cent and overseas (7.3 per cent).
Weaker market conditions primarily relating to diesel and Brexit also weighed on sales in the UK (-1.5 per cent) and Europe (-7.8 per cent). The all-new Range Rover Evoque has now been announced and will be going on sale later this year.
Retail sales for the month of December were 52,160, down 6.4 per cent year-on-year primarily reflecting ongoing challenging market conditions in China (down 42.4 per cent) as slowing economic growth and trade tensions with the US continue to impact automotive sales volumes across the industry, which were lower for the sixth consecutive month. Jaguar Land Rover continues to work closely with retailers in China to respond to the present market conditions.
Jaguar Land Rover generated strong December retail sales growth in North America (21.4 per cent), Europe (7.6 per cent) and the UK (7.8 per cent), outperforming the industry in each of these markets, while sales in overseas markets fell 9.6 per cent year-on-year.
Jaguar retail sales increased to 16,165 vehicles in December, up 7.2 per cent year-on-year, driven by the introduction of the E-PACE and the all-electric I-PACE, partially offset by lower sales of sedans and the F-PACE.
Land Rover retailed 35,995 vehicles in December, down 11.4 per cent year-on-year as strong sales of the refreshed Range Rover and Range Rover Sport were more than offset by lower sales of more established models, primarily in China. Retail sales of the all new Range Rover Evoque are expected to begin in early 2019.
“With the launch of the all-new compact yet sophisticated Range Rover Evoque in 2019, we expect to see a boost in demand. Customers are able to choose from state-of-the-art petrol and diesel engines with mild and soon plug-in hybrid options, demonstrating our commitment to driving a cleaner and more sustainable future, without losing any of Land Rover’s legendary capability,” said Jaguar Land Rover chief commercial officer Felix Brautigam.
