Amid continued uncertainty over electric vehicle (EV) adoption timelines, demand for plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) from Land Rover and Range Rover has soared.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the West Midlands-based Indian-owned automotive group, has reported a 29% increase in global sales of its PHEV models for the first half of the financial year ending in September.
This shift to hybrids reflects changing consumer priorities, with many buyers choosing PHEVs as a transition to fully electric vehicles. JLR sees PHEVs as a ‘stepping stone’ technology, allowing customers to get comfortable with electric driving while eliminating ‘range anxiety’ via a petrol hybrid engine. For longer journeys, the hybrid system switches seamlessly from electric to fuel, offering flexibility for those unsure about going all-electric.
PHEVs are becoming a popular choice in the UK market, where sales of hybrids have increased by 26% this year, surpassing diesel’s share. JLR’s Defender and Range Rover models have seen particularly strong demand, with global PHEV sales increasing by 47% for Range Rover and 23% for Defender, building on a 59% increase in global PHEV sales in the year up to and including March. In Britain alone, JLR PHEV sales reached 20,800 units, an increase of 55% on last year.
Mark Camilleri, JLR’s electric vehicle program director, emphasized that PHEVs offer an introductory ownership experience that includes both home and public charging before buyers consider switching to fully electric vehicles. Currently, JLR’s Range Rover PHEVs offer a range of 70 miles (electric only) – well above the UK driver’s average daily mileage of 20 miles – enabling zero-emission daily commuting in urban environments.
Looking ahead, JLR has committed to introducing fully electric models of the Range Rover, Defender and Discovery by the end of the decade. Jaguar, JLR’s sister brand, will go all-electric next year, demonstrating the group’s commitment to electrification while balancing consumer needs for hybrid solutions.