Jaguar Land Rover sells record 621,109 vehicles in 2017

Jaguar Land Rover, the UK's largest carmaker, has reported a 7-per cent rise in 2017 sales to a record 621,109 vehicles, but warned of tough conditions in its home market due to weakening consumer confidence and a planned diesel tax hike on new cars.

JLR, which sprang back to growth after its takeover by Tata group in 2008, plans to refresh and expand its model line-up and increase volumes to around 1 million by the turn of the decade.

The automaker, which is facing difficult conditions in Brexit-bound Britain, said growth in China, its largest market, and in the United States helped to offset difficult conditions in Britain and the rest of Europe.

''We have once again delivered year-on-year sales increases thanks to a world-class product range and new models such as the E-PACE and Velar, as well as China-specific models such as the XFL,'' group sales operations director Andy Goss said, even as Britain's car industry body said last week that 2017 sales across the sector recorded their biggest drop since 2009.

''But we are facing tough times in key markets such as the UK where consumer confidence and diesel taxes will hit us,'' Goss added.

Carmakers in Britain say the government's plan to increase levy on new diesel cars as part of the greening efforts, will only add to weakening consumer confidence in the wake of Brexit and pull down car sales across the country.

Jaguar Land Rover too faces uncertainty over possible tariffs or customs delays if Britain fails to secure a favourable Brexit deal before the country leaves the European Union in March 2019.