Britain’s largest car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover has reported record breaking global sales for 2013.
The iconic British brands sold 425,006 vehicles in 2013 – up 19% on 2012 – setting new sales records in 38 international markets.
It is thought sales have been doing particularly well in Germany, as well as the rapidly growing developing economies of India and China.
In the UK Jaguar sales were up 15% and Land Rover sales were up 13%.
Globally Land Rover is proving the firm favourite among customers representing the largest share of sales with 348,383 sold in 2013, an increase of 15%.
But demand for the luxury Jaguar has surged over the last 12 months, almost doubling its international sales to 76,668.
Dr Ralf Speth, chief executive of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), said: “2013 has proven to be a very positive year for Jaguar Land Rover thanks to continuing strong demand for vehicles across the range.
“Our unrelenting focus on design, technology, innovation and quality has seen Jaguar Land Rover reach global consumers in more markets than ever before thanks to its most desirable product line-up, enriched further in 2013 by the Jaguar F-TYPE and all-new Range Rover Sport”.
The glowing sales report comes just days after the car giant launched the first phase of a recruitment drive to take on employees at its new engine manufacturing centre.
Around 600 jobs will be created over the next four years at the firm’s site near Wolverhampton in the West Midlands.
More than £500m is being invested in the centre, where low-emission engines will be built.
It also has design and manufacturing plants in Merseyside and Warwickshire and its head office is in Coventry.
The company said they support more than 190,000 UK jobs through the supply chain, dealer network and “wider economy”.
The latest sales figures represent a major turn around for the company, which was taken over by Indian firm Tata Motors in 2008, after it went cap in hand to the Government for bailout funds during the economic slowdown.
