Land Rover and Range Rover hybrid sales surge as EV uncertainty shifts buyer focus

Amid ongoing uncertainty over electric vehicle (EV) adoption timelines, demand for Land Rover and Range Rover plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) has soared.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the West Midlands-based Indian-owned automotive group, has announced a 29% increase in global sales of its plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models for the first half of its financial year ending September.

This shift toward hybrids reflects changing consumer priorities, with many buyers choosing plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) as a transitional step toward full electric vehicles. Jaguar Land Rover sees plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) as a “stepping stone” technology, enabling customers to learn about electric driving while alleviating “range anxiety” with a petrol hybrid engine. For longer trips, the hybrid system seamlessly switches from electricity to fuel, offering flexibility for those who aren’t sure about committing fully to an electric vehicle.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) are becoming a popular choice in the UK market, with hybrid sales rising by 26% this year, overtaking diesel’s share. Jaguar Land Rover’s Defender and Range Rover models saw particularly strong demand, with global plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales up 47% for the Range Rover and 23% for the Defender, building on a 59% increase in PHEV sales (PHEV) global average during the year to March. In the UK alone, Jaguar Land Rover plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales reached 20,800 units, an increase of 55% on last year.

Mark Camilleri, Director of Electrification at Jaguar Land Rover, highlighted that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) provide an introductory ownership experience that includes home and public charging before buyers consider moving to fully electric vehicles. Currently, Jaguar Land Rover’s Range Rover PHEVs offer an electric-only range of 70 miles – well above the UK’s average daily driver mileage of 20 – allowing zero-emission daily commuting in urban areas.

Looking to the future, Jaguar Land Rover is committed to offering fully electric models of the Range Rover, Defender and Discovery by the end of the decade. Jaguar, JLR’s sister brand, will go fully electric next year, signaling the group’s commitment to electrification while balancing consumers’ needs for hybrid solutions in the meantime.