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Jaguar Land Rover pushes back BEV rollout, focuses on plug-ins
Mardell indicated that the more mainstream EMA cars would come 12 months after the two electric Range Rovers, with the Jaguar models following after that.
Mardell said JLR would be prepared to delay the launch of the Range Rover Electric to ensure the EV was perfect. “If it takes a few more months to get to that point, then the team will be allowed it,” he said.
JLR said 16,000 people had joined the waiting list for Range Rover Electric. The company has not disclosed prices, although JLR Chief Financial Officer Richard Molyneux said on the earnings call that the EV’s price would be high enough to keep the company’s much improved profit margins.
Automakers have seen demand for EVs cooling, especially at the higher end of the market, which has had a knock-on effect on development. “What you have seen from other OEMs is that the race to BEV is starting to stutter a little,” Mardell said.
Plug-in demand ‘surprise’
JLR has navigated the collapse in demand for diesel vehicles with a shift to plug-in hybrids, which it now offers across its Land Rover lineup, as well as on the Jaguar F-Pace and E-Pace SUVs.
Last year across Europe,