March sales data from Tata Motors (TTM) show business is booming for its Jaguar Land Rover subsidiary.
Overall sales clocked in at 53,772 units, up 16.4% from March 2012, and longer-term trends tell a similar story. In the past 12 months, sales have headed even higher, up 22.5% to 374,669. Jaguar sales are up 8.1% in the last year, while Land Rover carried the carline with a 25.6% boost.
The automaker's stock took a 4% hit on March 21 after China announced it would introduce stricter fuel standards by 2015 that could affect Jaguar Land Rover sales. Tata's stock subsequently headed south by 9% before improving this week to an overall 3.3% loss. In the past year, shares have dropped 8.7%.
The latest data from Tata Motors break out sales by region and highlight just how important China sales are for Tata's growth opportunities.
China Jaguar sales are up 28.2% in the past 12 months, while Land Rover sales have roared ahead 51.4% in China. China accounts for 20% of Jaguar Land Rover's total sales for this period, and sales there have grown more (48.1%) than in any other region in the past year.
Tata Motors purchased Jaguar Land Rover from Ford in 2008 for $2.3 billion. In the past five years, it has grown to be Tata's most profitable arm.
