Despite all the challenges in the region’s automotive sector, luxury automotive manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover has reported an impressive increase in annual sales in MENA across its two brands for 2018/2019, compared to 2017/2018 results.
Jaguar’s MENA retail sales were up significantly by 46 %, while Land Rover MENA displayed a 13 % year-on-year increase. The positive reports reflect motorists’ continued loyalty and support for the brands in the region. Continuing this momentum for the remainder of 2019 and beyond, Jaguar Land Rover has also revealed that it is plotting further growth across the MENA region, with a number of new model launches scheduled throughout the year.
The Jaguar brand recorded a major jump in year-on-year growth in key markets in MENA, driving Jaguar sales upwards in the last fiscal year. Sales rose by 327 % in Bahrain, 115 % in Morocco, 81 % in Qatar, and 63 % in Saudi Arabia.
Similarly, Land Rover’s high-performance 4x4s saw increased interest and demand across MENA markets, with Iraq reporting 163 % year-on-year growth, Bahrain registering 117 % growth, and in Egypt, a 110 % rise over 2017/18 figures.
In the UAE, Jaguar registered 33 % year-on-year growth, while Land Rover saw a 25 % surge in sales – a strong foundation to launch the manufacturer’s upcoming models from.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate a profitable year for Jaguar Land Rover in MENA and we are already working to continue that trend in 2019,” said Rob Preston, Sales Director, Jaguar Land Rover MENA. “Our success was driven by the pioneering spirit of our regional retailers, who delivered the brand’s new products and services with the highest standards and integrity. We continue to remain focused on delivering sustainable growth and expect to surge in all-around performance and customer desirability in 2019, driven by new models and technologies to provide our Middle Eastern customers with the next generation of Jaguars and Land Rovers,” he added.
Bruce Robertson, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover MENA, said, “Once again, we’re proud of the performance delivered by Jaguar Land Rover, quarter after quarter, in MENA. Even though the automotive sector has faced several challenges globally, our performance in MENA in the last financial year was well balanced and sustained across all our regions and distribution channels.”
“These latest strong numbers have proven that our regional strategy, to focus on consumer-centric services and developments, is the key to success. Our development plans for the rest of 2019 are a reflection of our confidence that demand will continue, and with new model arrivals like the Jaguar I-PACE, we are sure to see these numbers grow,” added Mr. Robertson.
Following the success of 2018/2019 financial year, Jaguar Land Rover MENA headed into 2019 with an optimistic outlook. New models such as the latest generation Range Rover Evoque, the Range Rover Velar SV Autobiography Dynamic Edition, and the Jaguar F-PACE SVR will be making their way to local markets this year. Jaguar’s award winning, World Car of the Year, all-electric SUV, the Jaguar I-PACE, is also expected to hit the market during the second half of 2019, and is anticipated to be a game-changer in the automotive industry. Joining these new arrivals is the region’s adored legacy off-road vehicle, the iconic, Land Rover Defender, which remains a key part of Land Rover’s future product strategy. The new generation Defenders will be revealed globally in the latter half of 2019.
The company is leveraging strong consumer-demand for high-performance vehicles to shape operations across its MENA markets, and to continue offsetting the unpredictability of recent years. For 2019/2020, another priority for Jaguar Land Rover will be its continued focus on delivering the next-generation of automotive technologies in line with the brands’ Autonomous, Connected, Electric, and Shared (ACES) strategy.