Jaguar Land Rover ends 2012 with 30 % higher sales

Tata Motors' luxury car manufacturing arm Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) a 30-per centy rise in its global sales rose 30 per cent in 2012 over 2011 following strong market performance in the UK, China and the US.

The British automaker  said it is planning to invest £370 million ($600 million) at its manufacturing operatiions at Solihull, in the UK's West midlands region.

JLR also said it would create up to 800 new jobs in the UK to support new model programmes throughout 2013. It said more than 200 of these jobs are supported by the UK Government's Regional Growth Fund.

In 2012, JLR sales rose to 357,773 vehicles due to new model introductions and update programmes.

China is now JLR's largest market with the company's sales rising 71 per cent to 71,940 vehicles, followed by the UK, where slaes rose 19 per cent to 68,333 units, the US,  where sales rose 11 per cent to 55,675, Russia (up 43 per cent at 20,549) and Germany (up 41 per cent at 16,722).

"2012 has been a strong year for JLR with record-breaking sales performance globally. All of our key markets saw strong progress, with demand for our premium vehicles setting new records in a very competitive environment, said Phil Popham, JLR Director of Group Sales Operations Phil Popham.