Land Rover UK new registrations up 28%

Land Rover registered just over 42,000 new vehicles in the UK in 2010 compared to around 33,000 in 2009 - representing a 28% increase in sales over the previous year.

Sales increased across all models with Freelander up 37%, Range Rover up 29%, Discovery up 27%, Range Rover Sport up 23% and Defender up 11%.

An excellent customer response to new 11 Model Year products, together with increased fuel economy across the Land Rover range has been the main driver in the positive sales increase.

The Freelander 2 led the increase in sales with new registrations up nearly 40% on the previous year. Many customers opted for the Freelander 2 TD4_e; the brand's most fuel efficient vehicle, which uses Land Rover's Intelligent Stop Start technology to increase fuel economy and reduce CO2 by up to 20% in urban traffic.

Range Rover also performed exceptionally well with 4,069 new registrations in 2010 compared to 3,152 in 2009 (up 29%). The marque's flagship model received a new TDV8 engine at 11 Model Year, which sees fuel consumption improve by nearly 20% compared to the outgoing engine.

Land Rover UK managing director, Colin Green said: "Increasingly, customers are looking at the bigger picture and considering the overall cost of car ownership before making a purchase decision. Improved fuel economy, combined with excellent residual values, has helped grow Land Rover sales and increase the brand's share of the UK 4x4 market."

"Whilst the retail environment may remain challenging, 2011 will see us build on last year's excellent sales results. We will continue to invest in new product, not least with the launch of the New Range Rover Evoque later in the year."

Today also sees the UK public reveal of the new Range Rover Evoque, which is set to go on sale later this year as Land Rover's most sustainable vehicle to date. The new Range Rover will be manufactured at Land Rover's plant in Halewood, Liverpool, creating 1500 new jobs in the process.

The Evoque will make its UK debut this evening at the London Boat Show, where it will be revealed by Land Rover brand director, John Edwards and Land Rover designer director, Gerry McGovern. Hundreds of customers who have already paid deposits for the Evoque, despite not having seen it in the metal, will be at Excel in London to see the cars they have ordered for the first time.