Jaguar Land Rover’s surging vehicle sales and rising profit helped parent Tata Motors triple its first-quarter net income, more than making up for a drop in domestic sales.Tata’s profit surged to 54 billion rupees (660 million euros) in the fiscal first quarter ended June 30 from 17.26 billion rupees a year ago, the Mumbai-based company reported. Earnings were boosted by contributions from Jaguar Land Rover, where pre-tax profit more than doubled to 924 million pounds (1.2 billion euros) from 415 million pounds during the same period last year.
JLR was helped by demand for the Jaguar F-Type convertible and Range Rover SUVs. Deliveries at the automaker climbed 22 percent in the quarter to 115,596 vehicles. The luxury unit is helping buoy Tata Motors, which is struggling to revive profitability of the Indian business that sells Tata-brand cars, buses and trucks. Tata Motors acquired the UK-based automakers in 2008.
The XE mid-sized sports sedan, to be unveiled in London Sept. 8, will be the only car in its segment to be built on an aluminum platform. The XE also will feature four-cylinder, 2.0-liter gasoline and diesel engines, according to the carmaker.
