The Range Rover Sport - sales up 210%
Land Rover has posted impressive sales figures for October with sales up by 89% in comparison to October 2008.
Land Rover has suffered really badly from both the current economic meltdown and the world’s obsession with all things ‘Eco’. The big 4x4s produced by Land Rover seem to have been the main target of the eco-mentalists, and do engender some extreme reactions in people.
I was out a few months ago in a very nice top-end Range Rover and got verbally abused by a guy in a 15 year old Mondeo for my ‘Planet Wrecking’ transport. I’m not good at not reacting, so I pointed out to him that his old banger probably had bigger emissions than my car. But as with all these extremists the logical argument didn’t wash. I was in a Land Rover and therefore I was the Devil incarnate.
All of which means it’s not been an easy ride for Land Rover lately, so it’s great to hear that they had a massive 89% increase in sales in October this year compared to October 2008. Sales of the Defender were up 25%, Freelander 2 up 55%, Discovery up 112%, Range Rover Sport up 210% and Range Rover up 43% with a total sales volume of 2,855 and sales so far this year of 28,042. Well done them.
Sales are still only just above 2006 levels – and still down on 2007 – but it’s a huge turnaround from the devastating sales of just 1,283 in October last year. And deservedly so. The 2010 range from Land Rover is exceptionally good and people are finally waking up to reality again.
These impressive sales figures auger well for JLR. We can expect to see the baby Range Rover – the Range Rover LRX – in the next year or so together with new, lightweight and far more efficient models of the Discovery and Range Rover coming along after 2012. And let’s not forget the replacement for the Land Rover Defender – Project Icon – which will see even Land Rover’s original workhorse falling in love with fluffy bunnies and fresh air.
Back on track for Land Rover. Good.
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