By ROB HULL
Updated: 06:10 AEDT, 14 November 2024
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Jaguar's boss has defended the car maker's decision to stop selling new cars for a year ahead of its bold transition to electric vehicles.
The British brand has ceased output of all petrol and diesel models for the UK market for the first time since the Second World War as it terminates its 102-year relationship with the internal combustion engine.
This comes ahead of its switch to battery power from 2026 and its dealers closed order books to new customers last week, leaving Jaguar with no new cars on sale for what it has dubbed a 'sunset period'.
When asked if it was a mistake to be taking a 12-month hiatus from the market, managing director Rawdon Glover said it has always been part of a 'strategic decision', with Jaguar wanting a 'fire break' period for dealers and customers to prepare for its electric rebrand.
Jaguar is now completely reliant on its used car retail network to see it through the next 12 months.
Jaguar managing director Rawdon Glover (pictured) has defended the company's move to not sell any new cars for 12 months as it prepares to become an EV-only luxury brand from 2026
Last week, Jaguar's entire dealership network closed order books to new customers
In recent months, Toyota has confirmed it will significantly reduce its EV production volumes for 2026, while Renault's boss said car makers were not on the 'right trajectory' to go fully electric by 2035 - the EU's proposed date to ban new petrol and diesel cars, which is five years later than the UK's deadline.
Ford bosses in July said it will not go fully electric in 2030, despite claiming it would back in February 2021.
Aston Martin has also said it is delaying the launch of its first EV in response in declining demand for new electric cars.
The industry's mass retreat on EV promises also comes against a backdrop of brands slashing their existing electric car prices in an effort to drum-up sales, announcements of extended lifecycles for petrol cars and some brands temporarily shutting down battery vehicle production lines due to a lack of demand.
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