Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has reported a £395m first quarter loss partly blamed on plant shutdowns ahead of the original Brexit date.

The loss for Britain's biggest car maker was 50% higher than in the same period last year and comes after it had edged back into the black with a £120m profit in the previous three-month period.

JLR, owned by India's Tata Motors, said it sold 11.6% fewer vehicles in the three months to June than in the same period last year - consistent with its expectation of "weaker market conditions".

China - buffeted by trade war fears - continued to see sharp declines, with sales down 29.2% but the company said there were signs of stabilisation at the end of the period.

Sales also fell in Europe and the US though they were 2.6% higher in the UK.


JLR said: "Additional plant shutdown time and delays in WLTP [new emissions testing rules] certification resulting from Brexit contingency planning also contributed to the lower sales and profits."

The results come after the company reported a record annual loss of £3.6bn for the year to the end of March as it took a big accounting write-down on the value of the business due to the weakness of the market.

JLR boss denies crying wolf over Brexit

In January, it announced plans to cut 4,500 jobs.

The company has been badly hit by lower demand in China and waning appetite for diesel vehicles as well as Brexit uncertainty.

More recently it announced plans to build new electric vehicle models at its Castle Bromwich plant safeguarding thousands of jobs at the site and in the supply chain.

Commenting on the first quarter figures, JLR chief executive Ralf Speth said: "Jaguar Land Rover is in a period of major transformation.

"We are simplifying our business, delivering our product strategy and adapting to the tough market environment.

"We will build on our strong foundations and increased operating efficiency to return to profit this fiscal year."