Press Report : Mixed fortunes for Jaguar and Land Rover as sales rise

Graeme Brown, Birmingham Post, 4th March, 2010

Midland car marques Jaguar and Land Rover had opposing fortunes last month as new car sales continued to accelerate ahead. Sales of Land Rover were up by more than 60 per cent in February, on the back of new models being released, while Jaguar saw sales fall by more than 26 per cent.

UK-wide, new car sales rose by 26.4 per cent compared to the February 2009 total – but fears remain for the industry with the Government’s car Scrappage Scheme soon to end. Although the February 2010 total of new registrations reached 68,686, this was 1.3 per cent below the February 2008 figure and 12.2 per cent below the average for the month of February from 1999 to 2009.

Announcing the figures, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said the Scrappage Scheme had accounted for 19.6 per cent of the February 2010 new car market. Today’s figures were boosted by the fact that this time last year the motor industry was suffering a downturn in demand and production.

It was the introduction of the Scrappage Scheme which eventually reversed a trend which had seen year-on-year sales fall for 15 successive months. SMMT Chief Executive Paul Everitt said: ‘Scrappage has generated eight consecutive months of growth in the new car market and we expect its benefits to stretch beyond the scheme’s closure later this month.

‘Industry continues to face challenging market conditions, but positive trends in the fleet and business sectors suggest that negative impacts can be minimised. Strengthening business and consumer confidence remains industry’s priority. A clear and consistent approach to CO2-based taxation and improved access to affordable credit are essential elements in sustaining recovery in the new car market.”

Jaguar sold a total of 266 cars in the UK in February, which means it is 14.7 per cent down in the year-to-date. Land Rover is more than 59 per cent up for the first two month, after selling 804 cars last month.

The SMMT said it expected sales to rise in March 2010 but, with the Scrappage Scheme ending, new registrations are likely to decline in the second half of this year. Total registrations for 2010 are expected to be about 10 per cent down at 1.82 million, the SMMT added.

[Source: Birmingham Post]

Clive Goldthorp

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