Corporate Business

SAIC Motor Corporation, the seventh largest automobile manufacturer globally and China’s largest automaker, sold 6.93 million vehicles in the calendar year 2017. The company registered an overall growth of 6.8 percent compared to 6.49 million vehicles sold in the year-ago period. SAIC’s self-owned passenger car brands MG and Roewe became the new engines for growth, driving more than 50% of SAIC’s overall sales growth in 2017. Sales of MG and Roewe surged 62 percent at over 520,000 units in 2017.

Aston Martin Holdings (UK) Ltd, the designer and manufacturer of luxury handcrafted sports cars, today reported a record full-year financial performance driven by continued strong demand for the DB11 and special models. For the 12 months to 31 December 2017, the Group delivered its highest-ever revenues of £876m, up 48% versus the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA more than doubled to £207m, while pre-tax profit rose by a quarter of a billion pounds to £87m, reversing a pre-tax loss of £163m in 2016.

One motor car changed the course of automotive history. Today, the legend is re-told as Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly announces the creation of a collection of 35 model year 2018 Rolls-Royce Ghosts, created in homage to the original Silver Ghost’s achievement. In 1904, a pioneering motorist, a brilliant entrepreneur and an intrepid engineer were united by a desire to succeed. Three years later, this success was recognized by the world’s media. An unfathomable challenge unprecedented of its time and legendary to this day, was completed by The Hon. Charles Rolls and Claude Johnson in Sir Henry Royce’s ‘Silver Ghost’. The car achieved a non-stop long distance endurance record of 14,371 miles. This challenge was to shape automotive and luxury history, creating a world-renowned benchmark for excellence in the process.

The new Land Rover Explore mobile phone is tough and capable – like the Discovery SUV that inspired it. Powerful enough for two full days of typical use and durable enough to keep you connected when the going gets tough, it is developed by Land Rover and Bullitt Group and will be revealed at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

American demand for British-built cars rose in 2017, as increasing popularity of the UK’s ever-growing range of premium, luxury and sports cars, helped drive UK automotive exports to the country. Latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), show almost 210,000 US buyers chose a UK-made car last year, an uplift of 7.0%. A total of 1,671,166 vehicles rolled off UK production lines in 2017, a -3.0% decrease on 2016 – but still the second highest output since the turn of the century. Export demand from 160 markets worldwide now represents 79.9% of all UK car output – the highest proportion for five years.

A new Aston Martin online shop has opened its virtual doors at shop.astonmartin.com. The new shop is the best destination to purchase anything from an Aston Martin print to clothing from their lifestyle collection. For anyone looking for Aston Martin Racing team wear, they can now head over to the Ready-to-Wear section where they will find not only team kit but apparel featuring limited edition artwork, polo shirts, bags, cashmere scarves and even a mini race suit for younger fans of the team.

Phase I of Aston Martin’s new manufacturing facility at St Athan in Wales is now complete.  Work started on the site in late 2016 when Aston Martin was first given access to the former MOD site, phase I works included the creation of the customer and staff reception areas, administration, and management offices and the employee restaurant. Phase II, which commenced in April 2017, will see the three super hangars redeveloped into a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with Aston Martin’s SUV due to start production in 2019.

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC is proud to announce the 32 U.S. winning dealers of the 2017/18 Pride of Jaguar and Land Rover Pinnacle Retailer Excellence Awards. The Pride of Jaguar and Land Rover Pinnacle Awards are given annually to dealers who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and the Jaguar and Land Rover brands. Last year, sixteen retailers were selected from each brand based upon their top performance in core business categories including customer advocacy, sales and aftersales.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced the appointment of Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi as Director of Engineering from March 1, 2018. Ayoubi joins Rolls-Royce from the BMW Group with over 20 years’ experience in a broad range of engineering positions. He is currently Head of Concepts, Architectures and Integration and has previously headed departments in acoustics and vibration, dynamics development, chassis control systems, drivetrain development, all-wheel drive and driver assistance systems. He is also very familiar with Rolls-Royce, having been involved with the engineering concept for New Phantom.

Jaguar Land Rover Automotive plc today reported pre-tax profits of £192 million for the three months to 31 December 2017, as major investment in new models and challenging trading conditions in key markets offset a solid rise in unit sales. In the third quarter, retail sales grew 3.5% to 154,447 units, driven primarily by a 14.6% increase in unit sales in China and an 18.2% rise in overseas markets. Increased sales in such markets reflected underlying demand for the new Range Rover Velar, the Land Rover Discovery, the recently-launched Jaguar E-PACE compact SUV and, in China, the long-wheelbase Jaguar XF. This improvement was offset by flatter demand in the USA, UK and Europe, and the impact of model year change-overs for the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport.

MG Motor UK has announced an exceptional month for sales, reporting a total of 475 vehicle registrations in January –  a staggering 130% increase compared to the same period in 2017. Despite a market downturn of 6.3%, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), MG has successfully bucked the trend becoming the UK’s best performing car brand in January. The Longbridge-based company, which concluded 2017 with a year-on-year registration increase of around 6%, looks on course for a successful 2018, despite challenging market conditions.

Morgan Motor Company has announced record profitability and growth as it continues to roll out a long-term strategic plan under the guidance of Chairman Dominic Riley, Managing Director Steve Morris, and family shareholders – keeping up the positive momentum in the family-owned business. Year-end financial reports released today announced record growth from the 109-year-old company with a 19 percent increase in revenue against 2016 to £36m, improved group margins with an increase of 12 percent, a 13 percent increase in group net assets and an increase in pre-tax profits to £2m. Last year saw strong performances from all sectors of the Morgan business, including a new technological partnership with Frazer Nash for EV development, futureproofing with long-lead new model planning and strategic in-house appointments within the management team coupled with increased marketing activity.

Bentley Motors has launched its 2018 trainee recruitment campaign with 86 new positions available for apprentices, Undergraduates and Graduates to start in the autumn of 2018. Apprentice applications open from 10 February at www.bentleycareers.com with Undergraduate and Graduate opportunities added throughout the month. Vacancies cover commercial areas such as Sales and Marketing, Communications, Human Resources, Finance, and Purchasing, as well as the traditional Engineering and Manufacturing opportunities.

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC reported January 2018 U.S. sales: Land Rover sales increased 5 percent to 6,446 units from 6,163 in January 2017; Jaguar sales were 2,604 units, an 11 percent decrease from 2,939 units in January 2017; Jaguar Land Rover January U.S. sales for both brands hit 9,050 units, a slight decrease from 9,102 units in January 2017. After coming off a record-setting year in 2017, we are starting 2018 with a successful January sales month for Jaguar Land Rover. — Joe Eberhardt, President and CEO, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC For the full year 2017, Jaguar Land Rover U.S. sales reached 114,333 units, up 9 percent compared to 105,104 units in 2016, and establishing a new all-time U.S. sales record for the combined brands.

Bentley Motors has been recognized as a Top Employer for the seventh consecutive year, reflecting the company’s investment and focus on personal development, future talent, and employee conditions. The award – presented by the Top Employers Institute – highlighted Bentley’s emphasis on continuous improvement, employee conditions and dedication to the company’s 4,000-strong workforce.

Aston Martin, the British luxury carmaker, today revealed it would be investing in a new design and innovation partnership with The College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University in Shanghai, one of the world’s leading universities for the study of design and innovation. Aston Martin’s EVP and Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman will become a visiting professor, sharing his knowledge with the students via lectures and workshops. The first project of this new partnership is a collaboration on designs for future color and trim projects.

Jaguar Land Rover has been named the largest automotive vehicle and engine manufacturer in the UK in 2017. The British company produced 532,107 vehicles, a 2.3 percent fall from a record high in 2016, at its three plants in Birmingham and Liverpool. It also produced 305,907 clean Ingenium engines in Wolverhampton. The news comes as the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) announced that annual UK car production has fallen for the first time, having reached a 17-year high in 2016.

Aston Martin, the British luxury car maker, is planning a five-year trade and investment drive in China worth over £600 million as part of its expansion in the world’s largest automotive market. The five-year plan, which follows the company’s earlier announcement of a new dealership in Wuhan, was announced by Aston Martin President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Andy Palmer during a visit to China by a UK business delegation accompanying British Prime Minister Theresa May.