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Land Rover and Range Rover hybrid sales surge as EV uncertainty shifts buyer focus

October 31, 2024

Amid ongoing uncertainty around electric vehicle (EV) adoption timelines, demand for Land Rover and Range Rover plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) has surged.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the West Midlands-based, Indian-owned automotive group, has reported a 29% increase in global sales of its PHEV models for the first half of its financial year, ending in September.

This shift towards hybrids reflects changing consumer priorities, with many buyers opting for PHEVs as a transition step towards full EVs. JLR sees PHEVs as a “stepping stone” technology, enabling customers to familiarise themselves with electric driving while alleviating “range anxiety” through a hybrid petrol engine. For longer journeys, the hybrid system switches seamlessly from electric to fuel, providing flexibility for those uncertain about fully committing to an EV.

PHEVs are becoming a popular choice in the UK market, where hybrid sales have risen by 26% this year, surpassing diesel’s share. JLR’s Defender and Range Rover models have seen particularly strong demand, with global PHEV sales up 47% for Range Rover and 23% for Defender, building on a 59% increase in global PHEV sales in the year to March. In the UK alone, JLR’s PHEV sales reached 20,800 units, a 55% rise from last year.

Mark Camilleri, JLR’s electric vehicle programme director, highlighted that PHEVs provide an introductory ownership experience that includes both home and public charging before buyers consider transitioning to fully electric vehicles. Currently, JLR’s Range Rover PHEVs offer an electric-only range of 70 miles—well above the UK driver’s average daily mileage of 20 miles—allowing for zero-emission daily commutes in urban settings.

Looking ahead, JLR has committed to introducing fully electric models of the Range Rover, Defender, and Discovery by the end of the decade. Jaguar, JLR’s sister brand, will go fully electric next year, signalling the group’s dedication to electrification while balancing consumer needs for hybrid solutions in the meantime.