Jaguar has named the 19 UK car dealerships that will represent its franchise as it begins selling its new generation of all-electric luxury cars, starting with the Type 01.
The future network will be operated by 12 dealer groups, most in the AM100 cohort, with Sinclair Motor Group’s Cardiff dealership selected as Jaguar’s retail destination for South Wales.
Jaguar said the smaller, more focused network had been designed around geographic coverage, customer accessibility and the requirements of its new business model.
The Jaguar brand is now focused on selling new electric cars, profitably, in key markets including the UK. Sales will be in much lower volumes than the fleet-focused Jaguar era of the 2010s era, when its annual registrations peaked at almost 35,000 in the UK during 2016, and consequently the number of Jaguar dealerships required now is modest.
In a briefing with Automotive Management a few weeks ago, at the JLR headquarters in Gaydon, Jaguar’s global managing director Rawdon Glover revealed that he believed the UK needed a maximum of 20 Jaguar sales points.
The destinations will offer enhanced retail environments, greater personalisation and future Jaguar Care services as the manufacturer moves further into the luxury market.
Glover said at the briefing that Jaguar retailers will provide concierge-level care for customers, including collection and delivery for those owners that aren’t close to a dealership.
Twelve groups secure franchises
Lithia UK has the largest representation, with Jaguar dealerships in Derby, Chester, Tonbridge and Wolverhampton alongside the manufacturer’s new flagship destination in Knightsbridge.
Sytner will operate dealerships in Bristol, Northampton and south-west London, while Marshall will represent Jaguar in Cambridge and Oxford.
The remaining destinations will be operated by Southeast Motors in Brighton (the former Harwoods dealerships bought by Dubai-based DXB Investments), Lookers in Belfast, Group 1 Automotive in north-west London, Hendy in Southampton and John Clark Motor Group’s Pentland dealership in Edinburgh.
Vertu Motors will represent Jaguar in Leeds, Lloyd Motor Group in Newcastle, Williams Motor Group in Manchester and Sinclair Motor Group in Cardiff.
Sinclair’s team recently visited Jaguar to view a clay model of the Type 01 and learn more about the design philosophy behind the brand’s next-generation vehicles.
The Cardiff dealership said it was preparing to introduce customers across South Wales to Jaguar’s new design direction and electric model range.
Aftersales network remains in place
Jaguar stressed that the new car network changes would not reduce support for owners of its existing vehicles.
Current Jaguar dealerships and authorised repairers, located at Land Rover dealerships which had previously also sold new Jaguars, will continue to provide servicing, maintenance, repairs, warranty support and software updates.
Approved used Jaguar sales and other ownership services will also remain available through the wider UK network.
Jaguar said the future retail footprint was intended to maintain national coverage while creating a more personalised customer journey for buyers of its new vehicles.
The manufacturer opened its first permanent expression of the reimagined brand in Knightsbridge in October, with Lithia UK appointed as its retail partner.
Its Type 01 is intended to establish the design and technology direction of the new Jaguar range, which will be exclusively electric.
“Our team recently visited Jaguar to get closer to Type 01 and explore the creative vision behind the brand’s next generation of electric vehicles,” said a Sinclair spokesperson.
“Rooted in Jaguar’s “Copy Nothing” ethos, Type 01 expresses a bold new design direction. Sculptural proportions and distinctive details reflect a philosophy Jaguar calls Exuberant Modernism – bringing together originality, artistry and innovation.”
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