Automotive News – Early October 2026
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has released its wholesale and retail sales for the second quarter of financial year 2027, the three months ended September 30, 2026, which reflect improvements in the UK and Overseas markets, while revealing conditions remain challenging in China.
In the Middle East, ongoing disruption impacted wholesales quarter‑on‑quarter (QoQ) but retail volumes indicate underlying demand is still strong.
Wholesale sales are the finished cars JLR sells as a business, as opposed to retails which are vehicles customers buy from retailers.
Sourced from TheBusinessDesk
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Record electric car market powers bumper September.
- New car market grows 12.0% to 350,536 units in plate-change September – the 10th consecutive month of growth and strongest September since 2017.
- Record 99,201 battery electric cars join the road – almost 5 every minute – as buyers respond to greater model choice, manufacturer incentives and government grants.
- Year-to-date BEV share reaches 26.2%, showing strong progress but still below last year’s 28% mandate target and the 33% required in 2026.
Sourced from SMMT
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September’s record electric van uptake still less than half mandated.
- New light commercial vehicle market up 4.8% in plate-change September with 49,704 new vans, pickups and 4x4s joining UK roads.
- Demand rises for vans of all sizes and 4x4s, but pickup deliveries continue sharp decline.
- Best ever month for new battery electric van uptake – yet still far adrift of mandated target.
The new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market rose for the sixth consecutive month in September, up 4.8% with 49,704 vans, pickups and 4x4s joining the road, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Often a bumper month with the introduction of the new number plate, September saw the highest monthly volume of 2026 – exceeding even March, which is typically the market’s biggest month of the year.
Sourced from SMMT
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Electric sports car maker Longbow is to build its cars at MIRA Technology Park near Nuneaton, creating more than 200 skilled jobs.
The British company plans to start production of its limited-edition Speedster at the site next year, followed shortly afterwards by its Roadster model. It aims eventually to make more than 13,000 cars a year, mainly from UK-made parts.
Longbow is receiving £3m from the £50m West Midlands Supplier Readiness and Transformation Fund, which will be matched by the company. The announcement was made at the West Midlands Growth Summit in Coventry today, where Mayor Richard Parker launched his new Reindustrialisation Blueprint.
Sourced from TheBusinessDesk
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The new Jaguar Type 01 has been unveiled in New York, with prices for the new model starting from £130,000.
The luxury car maker’s new design, created by JLR’s engineers and designers, is the most technically advanced, powerful and aerodynamic Jaguar ever engineered.
The launch of Type 01 marks a major milestone in the strategy JLR first set out for Jaguar in 2021.
Sourced from TheBusinessDesk
