Jaguar Land Rover’s Flat December Sales Growth Couldn’t Spoil 2017 Party

Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover reported a flat growth in vehicles sales in December but the British automaker's tally for the full year was its best ever.

JLR sales increased by a percent to 55,697 cars in December as compared to the same month last year, the company said in a media statement. For the full year, sales rose 7 percent over last year to 6.2 lakh vehicles, a record for the carmaker.

The sales growth was “driven by the introduction of new models into new and existing segments”, and increased demand for its new cleaner diesel and petrol engines. JLR also increased capacity of its manufacturing plants across the world, the statement said.

The record year for JLR means that its sales have more than tripled since 2008, when Tata Motors accquired it from Ford.

The Jaguar brand of cars contributed more to the sales growth in 2017 than Land Rover. Jaguar sales increased 20 percent, while Land Rover sales were up 2 percent year-on-year.

Sales in growth in China and U.S. helped JLR offset the challenges faced in Europe and U.K. China was the highest growing region for JLR in 2017 with a 23 percent rise in sales.

The carmaker, however, cautioned of a rocky road ahead in its key U.K. market where consumer confidence is hovering at its lowest since the Brexit referendum result.

The company expects sales to rise further with a ramp-up in production and newer models going on sale in the upcoming months. These include Jaguar's new E-Pace, a facelift of the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, and the electric sports utility vehicle Jaguar I-Pace.