Jaguar Land Rover lifts sales target in China

Shanghai, June 15 (Gasgoo.com) Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Tata Motors' luxury auto unit, raised its 2009 China sales forecast while expanding its sales and service network in the Chinese market, said Guangzhou Daily today.

JLR has opened a new auto-parts distribution center in China's eastern city of Suzhou, as the company's largest in Asia Pacific. That expansion of sales and service network, and the introduction of 10 upgraded models in the second half, may help boost sales of Jaguar sedans and the Land Rover SUVs in China.

"Sales of our vehicles in China have been growing rapidly over recent years," JLR China managing director Chris Brown said last week in Suzhou. "For Land Rover, China is now established as our fifth-largest market in the world." Full year sales in 2009 will surpass last year's tally, he added. Brown previously said 2009 sales would be "even."

Last year, Jaguar Land Rover boosted China sales 63% to 12,456 vehicles. Jaguar sedan sales surged more than 40% in the first five months to 595 units. But Land Rover sales plunged to 3,666 units in the first five months. The decline has slowed with May sales at about 1,000 vehicles, little changed from last year.

Brown spoke when the Suzhou distribution center was opened on June 8. The facility will become a hub for supplying parts across China and other Asian markets, such as Japan, Malaysia and Thailand. Jaguar Land Rover is also planning a sales company in China, he added.