Jaguar Land Rover CEO Praises New GT and Looks to the Future
In a recent interview with Autocar, outgoing JLR CEO Mardell expressed his excitement about the new GT model, calling it the “most fun” he’s had during his time at the helm of the company. He praised the vehicle for its speed, acceleration, performance, and character, noting that the chassis team is thrilled about its potential.
Looking ahead to Jaguar’s future as an all-electric luxury brand, Mardell expressed confidence in the brand’s prospects, stating that he anticipates significant wait lists for the first electric product. He expressed optimism about the success of the new Jaguar in the evolving market landscape.
Despite the progress made during Mardell’s tenure, JLR still faces challenges, notably new tariffs on foreign-built cars in the US market, a key market for the company’s most profitable models. While the UK secured a trade deal reducing US import tariffs, limitations on the number of cars exempted could impact JLR’s operations.
Additionally, the EU-US trade deal will still impose tariffs on cars exported from the region to North America, affecting models like the Defender and Discovery. Mardell’s successor, Balaji, will need to navigate JLR’s transition to a fully electric lineup amidst shifting global demand for premium EVs.
