World sales of JLR 4x4s race to all-time record

West Midlands car maker Jaguar Land Rover is celebrating more good news after international sales of its 4x4s accelerated to an all-time record.

Wholesale figures for the company, recording sales to dealerships and importers around the world, rocketed by 49 per cent in February, to 32,257 driven by demand for the new Range Rover Evoque and the latest Jaguar saloons.

While Jaguar piled another 32 per cent onto its February sales figure, selling 4,228 cars, Land Rover sales were up 52 per cent to 28,029 – the brand's best ever month.

It underlines the continuing demand for JLR's vehicles around the world, particularly in Russia, American and China.

As a result, plans are afoot to build new factories in China and India to satisfy demand in the Far East, while another 1,000 workers are being recruited at Halewood – home of the Evoque – on top of the 1,000 already recruited at Solihull following an extension of the Land Rover factory there.

And it bodes well for Wolverhampton, where work is due to start this year on a £355 million engine plant on the i54 development site, on the border with South Staffordshire.

It will create 750 jobs and produce the next generation of smaller, more fuel-efficient engines that will power the new models currently under development by JLR's designers and engineers.

The success of the company has made it an employer of choice, with 23,000 people applying for the new jobs at Solihull.

JLR has also received more than 2,000 applications for 133 apprentice places being created this year – including eight places to work at the i54 factory.

JLR's performance has helped boost wholesale figures for its Indian parent company, Tata Motors, to 127,318 vehicles in February – up by 24 per cent.