Jaguar Land Rover, revelling in a GBP1bn profit in 2010-11 and a GBP559m surplus in the final quarter of last year, has drawn up a four-point action plan to keep the ball rolling.
CEO Ralf Speth told a Geneva show audience, including JLR owner Ratan Tata, that the two British brands will strengthen their premium position and product ranges and increase their footprint in other markets while maintaining their “authentic British characters”.
Go deeper with GlobalData
“We will be premium in everything we do and invest over-proportionately in research and development on new models,” he said.
“We will strengthen our footprint in sales operations and discuss the possibility of more production in India, China and Brazil while ensuring we stay British and continue to produce in Britain.
“And there could be opportunities to increase production, which would mean hundreds of new jobs.”
Adrian Hallmark, head of the Jaguar brand, said there would be six new models in 2012 to add to the five in 2011. They include the XF Sportbrake (wagon) plus special edition additions to the XK sports car range, all revealed at Geneva.
John Edwards, his counterpart at Land Rover, said there would be greater customisation options for the hugely successful Range Rover Evoque, possibly including a production version of the convertible model revealed at Geneva to gauge reaction.
