- Retail sales exceed 500,000 for first time, up 13% year-on-year with expanded line-up including Land Rover Discovery Sport, Jaguar XE and XF
- Profit Before Tax of £1.56 billion
- Free cash flow £791 million after £3.14 billion of total investment spending
- Plans to invest £3.75 billion in fiscal 2016/17
Vehicle retail sales rose 13% to 521,571; breaking the half-million mark for the first time as the company continued to expand its product portfolio, with award-winning, innovative new models including the Land Rover Discovery Sport, Jaguar XE and XF.
The combination of an increased demand for new models; solid growth in markets including Europe, North America and the UK helped support full-year financial revenues of £22.2 billion, up £342 million on the previous 12-month period.
For the fiscal year, Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation(EBITDA) was £3.31 billion with a solid margin of 14.9% before one-time reserves and charges of £166 million, including a recall in the United States of potentially faulty passenger airbags supplied by Takata, a doubtful debt and previously capitalised investment (EBITDA as reported £3.15 billion with 14.2% margin). EBITDA is down from a record £4.13 billion a year ago, primarily reflecting less favourable market and product mix, especially in the first half of the year and unfavourable FX revaluation.
Profit Before Tax was £1.56 billion after an exceptional charge for the Tianjin Port explosion of £157 million (net of insurance and other expected recoveries to date) with strong free cash flow of £791 million after total investment spending of £3.14 billion. Profit before tax was down from £2.6 billion last year, primarily reflecting market conditions during the first half of the year - especially in China, model mix and continued investment.
In a particularly strong fourth quarter, retail sales reached 158,813 vehicles, up by 28% when compared to the previous quarter last year. EBITDA before the £166 million of one-time reserves and charges was £1.07 billion (£903 million as reported) with a strong margin of 16.2% (13.7% as reported), compared to EBITDA of £1.02 billion (17.4% margin) a year ago. Profit before Tax was £577 million, up £181 million compared with the same quarter in the same quarter in 2014/15.
Jaguar Land Rover plans to invest in the region of £3.75 billion during fiscal 2016/17 to support continued, sustainable, profitable growth in the future. This will include the expansion of global production capacity, new technologies and new vehicles, such as the Jaguar F-PACE and the Range Rover Evoque Convertible that will unleash the potential of both brands in the future.
Dr Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Officer, said: "Jaguar Land Rover has produced and sold more cars than at any time in our history. We are now the largest automotive manufacturer in the United Kingdom and our vehicles have received more than 140 awards across the range for design, technology, safety and environmental sustainability.
During this fiscal year, we have delivered sustainable, profitable growth and introduced new models - such as the Discovery Sport, Jaguar XE and XF - that have redefined their market segments."
"Furthermore, we are on track to deliver even more sensational products that will underpin the future performance of the business."
The generally positive outlook for the global premium automotive market and the forthcoming launches of exciting Jaguar Land Rover vehicles are expected to support the growth of the company in the future.
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