Record years for Jaguar and BMW

Last year was one of the darkest years for the European motor industry, but in global terms it was an excellent time to be a premium car maker. As proof of that, both BMW and Jaguar-Land Rover are reporting record sales levels for 2013, with BMW now tantalisingly in reach of hitting the two-million-vehicle production milestone for the first time ever.

Of that number, 1,655,138 cars were BMW-badged models, with the climb in
sales being led by the 3 Series and its variants, which posted a 23 per cent increase. X-model SUV sales also grew, as did sales of the 6 Series coupe and Grand Coupe, which posted a 19 per cent rise. Surprisingly, the facelifted 5 Series didn't gain much ground, only able to post a sales increase of just over 2 per cent.

Mini brand sales were also up, climbing 1.2 per cent to 305,030 vehicles.

Meanwhile, Jaguar-Land Rover is also posting record sales, with a 19 per cent rise in total sales to 425,006 vehicles in 2013. The vast majority of those were Land Rovers, with the 4x4s making up 348,338 of the total, a 15 per cent rise on 2012's sales. Jaguar sales climbed by 42 per cent to 76,668. Sales are being primarily driven by interest in the new F-Type and Range Rover Sport models.