Land Rover sales leap brings cheer

BRITAIN'S car industry received a much-needed shot in the arm yesterday with news that worldwide sales at Jaguar Land Rover had leapt by almost two-thirds last month.

The sharp rise was driven by an 89 per cent jump in sales of Land Rover models. Just over 14,300 of the four-wheel-drive vehicles rolled out of showrooms around the world during April, owner Tata Motors said.

Jaguar sales for the month totalled 3,559, almost the same as a year earlier despite the withdrawal of the X-Type. Within that, sales of the executive XF model rose by almost a quarter.

Overall, Jaguar Land Rover's global sales amounted to 17,909 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 61 per cent.

Last month, it emerged that car production had revved up by 90.2 per cent year-on-year in March, but the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders warned the jump compared with a very weak month last year at the height of the recession.

A recent survey revealed that more than three-quarters of car dealers fear it could be a further two years before their industry emerges from the doldrums.

The ending of the UK government's "scrappage" scheme, higher rates of car tax and the threat of higher VAT were all blamed for the downbeat mood in the sector.

Jaguar Land Rover returned to the black in the final three months of 2009, recording a profit of 55 million, following losses of 60m in the previous quarter. Indian parent Tata credited the turnaround to stronger market conditions.