Jaguar Land Rover to set up China sales company

Shanghai, September 28 (Gasgoo.com) Jaguar Land Rover, the British luxury carmaker owned by India's Tata Motors, will set up a sales company in China early next year to meet the growing demand for luxury cars in the Chinese market, the Economic Observer said today.

Jaguar, Land Rover cars are currently imported to China by four regional import agents, which can order the cars from the British headquarters. After its China sales company is established, Jaguar Land Rover's dealerships in the country can directly order the vehicles of this British luxury brand from its China sales firm.

Luxury car sales in China are likely to double within five years, a top executive of Jaguar Land Rover said recently, putting the country ahead of the U.S. and making it and Russia "very important markets" as Western sales struggle.

Jaguar Land Rover has raised its 2009 China sales forecast as rebounding economic confidence revives demand for SUVs. Last year, Jaguar Land Rover boosted China sales 63% to 12,456 vehicles.

As demand in the U.S. and Europe has plunged amid recession, Jaguar Land Rover expects a third of its sales to come from China and other emerging economies.