Coventry-based Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has returned to profit with significant positive cashflow in the three months ended 30 September 2020, as sales and revenue recovered from the impact of Covid-19 in quarter one of the finanicial year, but remain below pre-pandemic levels a year ago.

Retail sales of 113,569 units were up 53.3% from quarter one with almost all retailers now open. However, retail sales in most markets continued to be impacted by Covid-19 and were down 11.9% in total year-on-year. Encouragingly, China retails were up 14.6% on the prior quarter and 3.7% year-on-year while global retails of the new Defender rose to 4,508 units in the month of September.

Revenue was £4.4 billion (on wholesales of 73,451 excluding the China Joint Venture), up 52.2% from quarter one, although down 28.5% from pre-covid levels a year ago.

Recovery in sales
JLR generated a £65 million profit before tax (PBT) in the second quarter, up significantly from a loss of £413 million in the prior quarter but lower than the pre-covid PBT of £156 million a year ago. The improvement in the year reflects the recovery in sales, Project Charge+ cost efficiencies and favourable foreign exchange impact.

As expected, free cashflow was positive (£463 million), after £531 million of investment spending, which reflects a £528 million recovery in working capital following the re-start of production and the re-opening of the global retailer network.

Cost and cash improvements from the Project Charge+ transformation programme in the quarter totalled £0.6 billion, including £0.3 billion of cost and £0.3 billion of investment savings. Total savings year-to-date are now £1.8 billion and the company is on track to achieve the £2.5 billion target for the full year ending 31 March 2021.

JLR ended the second financial quarter of 2020/21 with solid liquidity of £5 billion, comprising over £3 billion of cash and short-term investments and a £1.9 billion undrawn revolving credit facility. The company has since completed a $700 million five-year unsecured bond issued in October 2020, increasing pro forma September liquidity to £5.5 billion.

Adrian Mardell, JLR chief financial officer, said: “We were pleased to see sales, profitability and cashflow significantly improve in the second quarter from the prior quarter.

“While sales and profitability have not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels in most markets, it was particularly encouraging to see China sales up year-on-year and global sales of the new Land Rover Defender starting to ramp up.”

The Charge+ cost and cash efficiency programme also contributed significantly to the better results in the quarter.

Charge+ remains on track to deliver £2.5 billion of saving this year and, with continued strong liquidity, JLR is well-placed to benefit from further market recovery in the second half and beyond.

All of JLR’s manufacturing facilities have now resumed production, with the UK plants in Solihull and Halewood and Slovakian plant in Nitra, as well as the engine manufacturing centre in Wolverhampton now increased to two shifts as demand for the company’s vehicles has continued to recover.

A gradual improvement in sales is expected to continue and will be supported by new and refreshed products, including the short wheel-base Land Rover Defender 90, the refreshed Jaguar F-PACE, as well as 2021 model year Range Rover Velar, Jaguar XF and Jaguar XE.

Electrification
Furthermore, JLR continues to expand its offering of electrification across its model range. Of the 13 nameplates in the company’s product portfolio, seven have now been revealed with plug-in hybrids and nine with mild-hybrids, in addition to the full battery electric Jaguar I-PACE. One more PHEV and two more MHEVs are expected to debut this financial year.

Although the outlook remains uncertain as a result of Covid-19 and the ongoing negotiations over future UK / EU trading arrangements, JLR expects the recovery in sales, revenue, and profitability to continue in the second half of Fiscal 2020/21, supported by Project Charge+.

The company also continues to expect positive free cashflow over the second half of the year and remains committed to achieving positive free cashflow in Fiscal 2021/22, to reduce net debt and increase financial resilience.

JLR’s new CEO Thierry Bolloré said: “Although JLR is not immune to the headwinds impacting the global automotive industry, it has the foundations in place to generate long-term sustainable profitability. I have been encouraged by the strengths of the company – reflected by its brand appeal and the capabilities of its employees – that will enable it to seize new opportunities in a rapidly-changing industry.

“I am confident these qualities and a strong product strategy with a focus on financial discipline will equip JLR to address challenges in the period ahead.”