Mike Humble:

Big celebrations are taking place with the news that UK based prestige car producer Jaguar Land Rover saw 2013 as a record year for production figures

This was up almost a fifth for the company, which has plants in Birmingham, Sollihul and Merseyside. The United States along with Germany and Asia are now the Indian-owned manufacturer’s fastest growing markets.

The figures came amid a resurgence in the wider vehicle market as the economy recovers both in the UK and in many key markets overseas. The Land Rover brand sold 350,000 vehicles worldwide last year, accounting for over 80% of JLR group total sales. Jaguar itself saw sales volumes increase by 42% in 2013 as customers in the US, India and Germany bought its luxury cars.

Jaguar Land Rover is hiring nearly 2,000 extra people to meet demand, bringing its total staff in the UK to more than 26,000. Last week, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said car sales in Britain were at their highest since 2007 thanks to a recovering economy with favourable interest rates and customer buying confidence returning – its great news for our UK assembly plants.

Other notable companies are also benefitting from the global upturn – Volkswagen, which announced last week that its luxury brands – Porsche, Audi and Bentley – have also posted record sales last year, aided by demand for prestige sector cars in new expanding market areas such as China and Asia.

Be sure to keep looking into AUTOBRITANNIA as we get to grips with two JLR models that are currently causing a great deal of interest in the marketplace. We will be fully testing the new low emission Jaguar XF Sportbrake with its credible 129 G/Km Co2 output and the 3 door Evoque diesel with the new ZF 9 speed automatic gearbox.

Both these important new cars for Jaguar Land Rover will feature on the site in February.

For more information on Jaguar Land Rover click HERE