Jaguar Land Rover Kick-Off the New Year with a Successful Detroit Auto Show

After spending a few snowy days in Detroit, I'm glad to be back to share a few highlights from this year's North American International Auto Show, which continues to be a key event on the global automotive calendar, writes Gary Temple, President of Jaguar Land Rover North America.

Jaguar Land Rover North America continues to experience sustained growth in our business. I'm proud to share that we celebrated a strong sales performance with retail sales up 18 percent across both brands for 2010. Land Rover has had more than a year of consecutive sales growth since launch of the 2010 MY and is up 21 percent. Jaguar, with the launch of the highly anticipated XJ, is up 12 percent for the year.

While we did not have a press conference for either brand, we introduced our two new global executives, Adrian Hallmark and John Edwards, Global Brand Directors for Jaguar and Land Rover respectively, to the media. The three of us spent the two press preview days speaking with journalists about Jaguar and Land Rover's success in 2010 and the continued growth for Jaguar Land Rover Corporate and the two brands in the coming year.

Stephen Polk (left), Chairman, President and CEO of R.L. Polk & Co., presents the 2010 Model Year Polk Automotive Loyalty Award for the Luxury SUV category (Land Rover Range Rover), to Gary Temple (right), President, Jaguar Land Rover, North America. This is the sixth consecutive year the Range Rover has won the award (third in the Luxury SUV category).

This is truly a time of revitalization for the Jaguar brand. While in Detroit, Adrian was on hand to receive the AUTOMOBILE Magazine 2011 All‑Star Award for the all‑new XJ along with Mike O'Driscoll, Jaguar Managing Director; and Frank Klaas, Global Head of Communications. This marks the third consecutive year a Jaguar has received the honor. The Jaguar XF was an AUTOMOBILE Magazine All‑Star for 2009 and 2010.The next day, I accepted the Polk Automotive Loyalty Award for the 2010 XK in the luxury sports car category.

The Range Rover Evoque was at the center of attention on the Land Rover stand. 2011 will prove to be an exciting year as we embark on the 'Pulse of the City' campaign to launch this new vehicle. Another Land Rover model, the Land Rover LR4 HSE "Metropolis" Limited Edition in stunning Fuji white with a blacked out grill and side vents, made a key appearance at this year's show. Land Rover boasts a celebrated product line up. From the Range Rover and the Range Rover Sport to the LR 4 and LR 2, it was an embarrassment of riches at our table at the Polk Awards dinner when, for the sixth consecutive year, Land Rover's 2010 Range Rover won a Polk Automotive Loyalty Award (the last three years in the luxury SUV category); making Jaguar Land Rover a winner across both brands.

This is just the beginning. I look forward to celebrating more good news from Jaguar Land Rover North America as we continue to offer premium luxury vehicles and best‑in‑class service in 2011.