Tata-owned JLR registers strongest ever half-year sales

The auto major sold 240,372 cars between January and June, 2014

Tata Motors-owned luxury car maker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has registered its strongest ever half-year sales in 2014 selling over 240,000 vehicles.

The UK-based auto major sold 240,372 cars between January and June, 2014, up 14% compared to the same period last year - which amounts to more vehicles in the past six months than in the whole of 2010.

While Jaguar sales rose 16% year-on-year, retailing 43,587 vehicles, Land Rover strengthened its position as a world-leading manufacturer of all-terrain SUVs with six-month sales hitting 196,785 vehicles.

"It is very encouraging to see both of our Jaguar and Land Rover brands delivering such strong performances for the first half of 2014. Range Rover Sport sales are up remarkably since last year and, 21 months since it was rolled out, the Range Rover remains strong, with sales performance continuing to grow year-on-year," said Andy Goss, JLR Group Sales Operations Director.

"Our top-selling model, the Range Rover Evoque, also continues to show solid growth. For Jaguar, the F-Type continues to drive sales and raise brand awareness with more customers around the world," he added.

In June, JLR was also recognised for its sustained sales success through the 2014 Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

As part of its strategic growth strategy, the company plans to invest in 50 new product actions over the next five years.

This includes 1.5 billion pounds to introduce an all-new, technically-advanced aluminium vehicle architecture in forthcoming models, beginning with the new Jaguar XE premium sedan to be manufactured from 2015 at the company's Solihull facility in the English Midlands.

The new Land Rover Discovery Sport, which will go on sale in 2015, will be the most versatile and capable vehicle in the compact SUV segment.

It is the first member of an all-new family of Discovery vehicles, inspired by the Discovery Vision Concept which was spectacularly showcased at the New York International Auto Show.

JLR, one of the UK's largest exporters, has announced plans to invest 3.5 billion pounds in its products and facilities in the financial year to March 2015.

The company, bought over by Tata Motors back in 2008, has been at the heart of Britain's automotive industry turnaround.