JLR sales hit Tata Motors

Jaguar Land Rover sales fell in September, the first monthly fall since July 2011 and a blow for Indian parent Tata Motors. The luxury vehicles make up 90 per cent of the group's profit.

JLR's sales growth over the past year, helped by the new Evoque model and success in emerging markets such as China, had been offsetting sluggish growth in Tata's domestic business.

The British brands sales fell 4 per cent in September, year-on-year, with 26,461 vehicles sold. It had previously reported August sales up 13 per cent, down from annual increases of about 40 per cent in the preceding three months.

It accounted for about 70 per cent of Tata Motor's consolidated revenue in the April-June quarter, and around 90 per cent of profit.