Jaguar Sales Further Strengthen In May

Jaguar sales in Britain and Europe further strengthened during May, driven by wider availability of the new Jaguar Diesels and X-TYPE Estate, to record a 31 per cent improvement over May 2003 and to maintain the overall growth trend seen through the year so far.

European sales of 5,305 cars in the month were more than 1,000 units ahead of the same period in 2003, helping global sales for the first five months to 51,680 units and a 13.6 per cent increase over last year.

In Britain, sales for the month totalled 2,692 cars, a 21 per cent improvement over last year. Rapidly growing acceptance of Jaguar's revised S-TYPE particularly, created a 57.6 per cent rise in sales of this model, supported by an equally strong performance from the X-TYPE Diesel, which outperformed key competitors in the segment, and new X-TYPE Estate, which saw a 43.8 per cent improvement for the month.

The X-TYPE has claimed a 19.2 per cent share of the premium C/D segment so far this year, which is a 36 per cent rise over the same period of 2003.

The new XJ continued its strong dominance of the premium luxury market in Britain, building on the recent J.D. Power Survey in the U.S., in which it was voted the highest-placed European nameplate by customers.

Across the wider European market a similar picture emerged, with full availability of the broadened X-TYPE range increasing sales by almost 170 per cent and the initial launch of S-TYPE diesel having an immediate positive impact as well.

"The rapid growth in sales of Jaguar's new diesel models underlines the increasing strength and popularity of our range," commented Mike Wright, Managing Director, Jaguar Cars. "With our advanced technology and excitement in new models like the X-TYPE Estate and world-class XJ premium luxury model, we have created a real momentum in our product line-up that customers have recognised and are responding to."