Economy

Bentley Motors has been recognized as a Top Employer for the sixth consecutive year, reflecting the company’s attention to excellence in personal development 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.

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC today reported January 2017 U.S. sales: Jaguar sales were 2,939 units, an 117 percent increase from 1,352 units in January 2016; Land Rover sales reached 6,163 units, up 9 percent from record sales of 5,655 units in January 2016; Jaguar Land Rover January U.S. sales for both brands hit 9,102 units, a 30 percent increase from 7,007 units in January 2016; making it the best ever Jaguar Land Rover January sales month. After coming off a record-setting year in 2016, we are starting 2017 with a successful January sales month for Jaguar Land Rover and are proud to report a 30 percent sales increase. This strong performance is a testament to our expanded product offering, highly desirable brands and dedicated retailer network. We are in prime position for sales growth in the coming year. […]

According to a recent article on CNN, American drivers are growing increasingly fond of British-made automobiles. They purchased nearly 50% more British cars in 2016 compare to the previous year, helping British automakers hike their annual production to a 17-year high. The U.K. Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said nearly 200,000 British-made cars were shipped to the U.S. last year. Meanwhile, just 40,000 U.S. cars were registered in the U.K. in 2016. The U.S. is the largest national market for U.K auto exports.

Jaguar Land Rover has once again been named the largest automotive manufacturer in Britain, accounting for more than 30% of all domestic car production last year. The news follows today’s announcement from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) that UK car manufacturers set a new record in 2016, producing 1,727,471 vehicles. Jaguar Land Rover’s three vehicle manufacturing plants in Liverpool and the West Midlands increased the company’s UK production output 8% over the previous year to 544,401. Jaguar Land Rover vehicles account for five of the top ten British best-sellers globally.

Norfolk-based Zenos Cars has gone into administration, it was revealed on Wednesday. The British manufacturer behind the bonkers lightweight E10 range announced it had ceased operating after hitting financial troubles due to a raft of order cancellations last year. Administrators are looking to speak to potential suitors who may want to buy the business and keep the sports cars with a niche following in production , the official statement from the car maker said.

MG Motor UK has announced the winners of its 2017 Annual Dealer Awards. The event, which took place on 12 January as part of the company’s national conference, celebrated outstanding achievement from across the network. Nathaniel MG took home the prestigious Dealer of the Year accolade, alongside being named Top MG3 Selling Dealer. Part of the network since 2015, the Bridgend-based business was recognised for delivering exceptional service for customers across South Wales. 

Jaguar Land Rover, the UK’s leading manufacturer of premium luxury vehicles achieved its best ever full-year global sales in 2016, selling more than one car every minute with retails of 583,313 vehicles, up 20% on the prior year. This is the company’s seventh successive year of growth in sales, with retails in 2016 almost triple the 2009 figure. Sales in December were up 12% compared to the same month last year, with retails of 55,375. Retail volumes were up 36% for the month in China – its strongest monthly performance on record. Jaguar Land Rover’s global performance for the full year 2016 shows a balanced regional portfolio with record retail sales in the UK, North America and Europe.

McLaren Automotive, the British manufacturer of luxury sports and supercars, has recorded another record year of sales growth with a near-doubling of its sales volume year-over-year, selling a total of 3,286 cars in 2016 compared to 1,654 in 2015. The 99.3 per cent improvement in sales performance also follows the company’s announcement of a third consecutive year of profitability in 2015 and the production milestone of the company’s 10,000th car, all capping another highly successful and record-breaking year.

MG Motor UK has been named as one of the fastest-growing automotive brands in the UK*. Figures released earlier this week by the SMMT** reveal that the company registered 4,192 vehicles in 2016 – 1,040 more than last year. Sales have grown by 33% year-on-year, with MG’s family-friendly SUV – the MG GS – a key driver of this success. In November, the new model reached its 500 unit sales milestone, just 176 days after being unveiled at The London Motor Show in May.

According to the Guardian, the British car industry has warned of a sales downturn this year as the economic uncertainty that followed the Brexit vote kicks in. A fifth consecutive year of growth saw nearly 2.7m new car registrations in the UK last year, a rise of 2.2% on 2015. But the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said it expected growth to reverse, with a sales decline of 5-6%, as the cost of new cars rises due to sterling’s fall. An end to cheap financing deals would also hit sales, it said. But Mike Hawes, the SMMT’s chief executive, said the domestic market remained comparatively strong. “This is historically an incredibly high level. We’re not talking about a collapse,” he said, adding that the market had been more resilient than expected after the EU referendum. But, he said: “Clearly, […]

The UK’s leading manufacturer of premium luxury vehicles has announced further global sales growth for November 2016, following a successful month in China and last week’s announcement that its Chinese plant is increasing capacity by over 50%. November % increase(decrease) YOY Jan – November % increase YOY 15/16 Financial Year % increase YOY Jaguar Land Rover 47,588 2 527,937 21 521,571 13 Jaguar 14,613 83 132,381 75 94,449 23 Land Rover 32,975 (14) 395,556 9 427,122 11 Jaguar Land Rover today reported its best ever November retail sales of 47,588 vehicles, up 2% compared to November 2015. The year-on-year growth in retail volumes was driven by strong sales of the new Jaguar XF (with the addition of the long wheel base XFL in China) and F-PACE as well as continuing solid sales of the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range […]

Classic car and motorbike insurance specialists Hagerty have just announced their most recent update to its market-leading UK Hagerty Price Guide (HPG). The HPG update, published online on 7th December 2016, shows that the UK classic car market has rebounded strongly in Q4 2016, with the Hagerty Classic Index showing an increase of 7.3% against a Q3 increase of just 1.3%. Analysis of the figures has also shown that top condition classic cars have performed best across the full price guide, with Hagerty’s condition 1 (‘concours’) cars achieving an average price increase of 1.8% in Q4 and condition 4 (‘fair’) cars achieving an average increase of only 0.7%.

The three millionth Oxford-built MINI is a John Cooper Works Clubman – the first model to combine the latest John Cooper Works performance enhancements and a new ALL4 all-wheel drive system. Plant Oxford has celebrated the three millionth MINI to roll off the assembly line since production began back in 2001. From around 300 cars a day in 2001 to around 1,000 built to order cars today, the 4,500 strong workforce at Oxford produce one new MINI almost every minute. Around 80 per cent of MINIs built here are exported to more than 110 markets across the world.

Strong sales across Europe helped Jaguar Land Rover achieve its strongest global October sales to date, selling 46,325 vehicles, up 12% year on year. The month’s performance was driven by improved sales of the Land Rover Discovery Sport, the Range Rover Evoque and the Jaguar F-PACE. Jaguar Land Rover sold 480,349 vehicles in the first ten months of 2016, up 23% on the same period in the prior year. Jaguar Land Rover delivered solid retail sales growth across all key regions year on year: Europe up 33%, China up 29%, North America up 25%, UK up 22% and other overseas markets up 4%.

Aston Martin is today revealing full details of its new global certified pre-owned sports car programme: Timeless. Established to offer customers of pre-owned Aston Martin sports cars the very highest levels of quality, assurance and confidence, the new programme is being launched internationally across the brand’s 164-strong dealer network.

Jaguar Land Rover today reported September 2016 U.S. sales: Jaguar sales were 2,662 units, a 168 percent increase from 995 units in September 2015; Land Rover sales reached 5,637 units, the 2nd highest September ever and down 4 percent from record sales of 5,855 units in September 2015; Jaguar Land Rover September U.S. sales for both brands hit 8,299 units, a 21 percent increase from 6,850 units in September 2015; making it the best JLR September sales month since 2003. Year-to-date, Jaguar Land Rover U.S. sales reached 74,740, up 25 percent from 59,619 units in 2015. “Jaguar Land Rover continues to increase its U.S. presence with a 21 percent increase this month and 25 percent for the year,” said Joe Eberhardt, President and CEO, Jaguar Land Rover, North America, LLC. “We are thrilled that Jaguar is tracking to be the […]

Eight of the UK’s major car brands united today at the Eiffel Tower in Paris on the eve of the key international motor show to demonstrate the diversity and quality of cars currently produced in the UK. Senior executives from British-based manufacturers, including Aston Martin, BMW MINI, Honda, JaguarLand Rover, McLaren, Nissan, Toyota and Vauxhall, were joined by Mark Garnier MP, the British Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Trade, to promote the strength of the UK automotive sector to a global audience. The UK automotive industry has undergone unprecedented growth in recent years – thanks to competitive business conditions, tariff-free trading and significant investment in new models and facilities. Car manufacturing achieved a 10-year high last year and British-built cars have never been so popular, with a record 1.2 million cars exported to more than 100 countries. Already in the first eight months of 2016, that total looks set to be beaten this year, with exports reaching almost 900,000 vehicles – 13% ahead of the same period in 2015.1

MG Motor UK’s first ever SUV, the MG GS, has given a boost to record sales for the UK brand. Official half-year figures, released today from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited (SMMT) show that MG Motor has had its best start to a year. Year-to-date figures show it has exceeded last year’s figures with 1,896 units; a 13.53% increase. June alone has pushed the brand up 43.59%, with 336 units. MG’s new SUV, the MG GS, is blazing the way with more than 70 registrations already; only a little less than two weeks since it officially went on sale. Regional test drives have been taking place across the country, which has paved the way to more sales and fantastic feedback on the new model. Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing for MG, said: “This year has […]