Jaguar sales continued to boom in 2000, with the United States’ appetite for the S-Type helping the company break records.

A 20 per cent increase was recorded with worldwide sales of 90,031 cars. Only the UK recorded a drop as the market slowed down.

Announcing the achievement at the Detroit International Auto Show, Jonathan Browning, Jaguar's managing director said:

"2000 was another milestone year in the product-led transformation of Jaguar.

“Today, we produce a range of high quality, attractive products generating tremendous sales momentum, making Jaguar one of the fastest growing of all car manufacturers.

"This year, we will break through the 100,000 sales threshold as we launch the new Jaguar X-Type compact sports saloon later in the year.

“In addition, we can now look forward to Jaguar becoming a five car line company with the announcement last week that we intend to put the F-TYPE into production in 2004. 

"In the space of five years Jaguar will have transformed from a two car line niche player to a five car line company and a major force in the global premium car market, and a significant competitor to Mercedes and BMW in every market of the world." 

Export performance was again very strong with 75,028 cars, around 80 per cent of Jaguar sales worldwide, making a significant contribution to Britain's car industry balance of payments.

Jaguar North America enjoyed its best ever year with sales in the United States of 43,728 cars.

This represents a 25 per cent increase from 1999 when Jaguar sold 35,039 cars in the United States. For December, Jaguar recorded sales of 4,235 cars.

As anticipated, the United States' 'love-affair' with the S-Type was a major contributor to Jaguar's overall export success. In its first full year of sales, total sales increased 58 per cent from 1999 totalling 24,507 cars sold. 

The Jaguar XK Sports series enjoyed its best year ever in the United States with sales up 9 per cent over 1999 at 6,729 cars sold – comfortably outselling the Mercedes SL.

Export sales to Europe rose 25.8 per cent to 21,401 cars – another record – with virtually every market on the continent reporting all time record sales during the year.

Sales in Italy increased 72 per cent to 3,797 cars; France increased by 48.5 per cent to 2,302 cars; and Belgium increased by 35.1 per cent with 1,606 cars sold.

Sales in the United Kingdom were down 3.1 per cent to 15,003 cars reflecting the slowdown in the UK market.

Major sales gains were also reported from Jaguar's markets outside Europe and North America. Sales in Japan rose 21.7 per cent and in the overseas markets including Australia, China and Singapore, sales rose by a third.

Mr Browning added:

"2000 was another strong year for Jaguar, with a particularly good performance from Jaguar North America.

“It gave me great pleasure therefore that Mike Dale, the long standing President of Jaguar North America, who retired in 2000, was awarded a CBE in the New Year’s honours list."