Sales of new Jaguar cars, a luxury car brand favored by the British prime minister and members of the royal family, have been suspended in the UK. Although it was a momentous event in British automotive history, the day passed without much fuss.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), a subsidiary of Indian automobile giant Tata Motors, plans to make a fresh start by transitioning to selling only luxury electric vehicles (EVs) in 2026. Until then, no new Jaguars will be shipped to UK dealers. According to a spokesperson, all Jaguars currently in stock are classified as used cars, regardless of their odometer readings.
Jaguar’s SUV “I-Pace”
Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg
In 2021, JLR announced plans to expand its product lineup to EVs only. Just months earlier, then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced plans to phase out new sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2030. The transition to EVs has proven to be more complex than expected for both JLR and the UK government.
In the UK, zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) became mandatory this year, and automakers such as JLR are struggling to comply. Manufacturers are required to make 22% of their new vehicle sales into ZEV vehicles, but many companies do not reach this level. Only 18% of new cars registered between January and October were battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
The UK’s Zero-Emission Car Sales Mandate
Annual targets jump the most from 2028 to 2030
So far this year, Jaguar has discontinued production of the XE saloon, XF sedan and F-Type sports car in the UK. Assembly of the E-Pace and I-Pace sports utility vehicles (SUVs) in Austria will be halted from December, with the remaining production destined for markets outside the UK. becomes. This means that for the first time since World War II, new Jaguar cars will not be available in the UK.
All remaining Jaguars in stock are classified as used cars.
Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
JLR Chief Executive Officer Adrian Mardell said last week that the company decided to take its time perfecting its product, given the unfavorable consumer reaction to EVs released by rival manufacturers.
“To be successful in any market, especially in a new market at this stage with BEVs, we cannot afford to compromise on the vehicles we bring to market,” Mardell said during an earnings call on Thursday.
JLR plans to continue manufacturing the F-Pace for export in the UK until the first quarter of 2026, and production will end slightly later than previously planned, he explained.
news-rsf-original-reference paywall">Original title:Brits Can’t Buy New Jaguars Until 2026 as Brand Goes Electric(excerpt)
