Bollore quits Jaguar after 2 years

[Sprintey]

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-new...just-two-years

I tend to follow Jag as my grandfather had an XJ and as such there is that 'inspiration'. The last couple of years have been painful to watch, especially killing the new XJ close to launch, forgetting to keep developing the current models, and particularly announcing they are all toast in 2025 and will be replaced by 2 or 3 SUV/electric cars at a much higher price point where traditional customers don't shop. Stuffing up with semiconductors seems to have occurred too, to the extent they have got single digit sales figures in the months VFACTS. Perhaps there is more to it than that.

In his favour he seems to have controlled losses, he was honest on quality, and his focus on quality is the right one and beginning to yield results, apparently.

What is the vox pop from the folks here: was this a hatchet job? Does it look similar to the Ford Australia CEOs after Polites?

[Franco Cozzo]

In an announcement released overnight the firm said Bollore was leaving the company for “personal reasons”

Jumped before he was pushed, might be taking a role as the CEO of the local sheltered workshop.

[Bossxr8]

Spending a billion dollars to develop a vehicle and not launch it, is about as brilliant as Dan Andrews pay $1 billion to not build a road that was only going to cost that much.

I don't know how management could come to that decision. The money had already been spent, they will never get the chance to recoup that investment.

It seems to me Jaguar has lost it's way and wants to be something it's not. Built an image of being "space, pace and grace" and now wants to move away from it.

[Dr Smith]

Was the next XJ going to have an EV version...if yes that would have put it out on the market ahead of the Germans back then (only) if I'm correct?

The camo's shots I could find seemed to show a car with a great stance, and a great wheel arch/window/shoulder line balance.

[Sprintey]

Yes the new XJ was going to be an EV - from memory both ICE and EV versions would be offered, which seems like a smart hedge.

If you look at how the XJ was reimagined in 2010, they nailed it, the interior will be remembered very well, it's astounding.

They broke ground with the I-Pace, then did not much with it.

"Space, Grace and Pace" - agree BossXR8, that's where the brand should be. Unfathomable why he would scrap the F-Pace, for that marries those ideals with the current preference for SUVs. Surely just hybrid and electrify that model, JLR has that drivetrain in the Range Rovers including the Velar which shares the F-Pace's platform.

Hence why I wonder if it was a deliberate implosion. Geoff Polites at Ford Australia shows what happens when you have passionate management who came from that area, and strongly back the company and it's product. Not a merry go round of international CEOs who jump ship to other companies and industries.

[Poetic Justice]

I kinda see their point of elevating beyond their current space and in to the Bentley/Rolls area, competing with the likes of BMW/Mercedes/Audi in the sedan/coupe game doesn't seem to have done it, so why not?

[janddbone]

It was a big call, but given what has happened with COVID and BREXIT I dont blame him. Castle Bromwich has been slated for downsizing since Tata took over as three palnts across the two brands was borderline viable. However much they lost, the pin was pulled before it was updated for MLA prodction.

[b0son]

What do Jag even have in the pipeline at the moment? It seemed like they were going all in on EVs, but without having any real runs on that board. I've yet to see an i-Pace on the road.

[janddbone]

Nothing but run out special editions. New reveals were scheduled for '24 and production in '25. They were aiming for low volume production of only 50,000 units.

Whatever happens in future at least the interim CEO Adrian Mardell is a Jaguar man, that should at least assist.

Land Rover has 200,000 units on order! They just can't get the electrical parts. A real ****show...

[Sprintey]

JLR update:

They are making great profit, highest since 2015 off back of RR and Defender:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cer3w1ewvjyo

Jag is going through with it: this month they cease production of all petrol and diesel models, as per Bollore's Re-imagine strategy. They are doing this while Merc and BMW - and Stellantis, and Ford, and GM etc etc are backing off on their EV development. And while the momentum of EV sales has slowed, for various reasons. Important to note the Rangies and Defenders will remain with a petrol option.

https://www.drive.com.au/news/jaguar...stle-bromwich/

https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/202...swansong-model

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Spending a billion dollars to develop a vehicle and not launch it, is about as brilliant as Dan Andrews pay $1 billion to not build a road that was only going to cost that much.

I don't know how management could come to that decision. The money had already been spent, they will never get the chance to recoup that investment.

It seems to me Jaguar has lost it's way and wants to be something it's not. Built an image of being "space, pace and grace" and now wants to move away from it.

More evidence as to why Ford let J/LR go. They constantly railed against Ford management
trying to rain in costs by codeveloping vehicles for Lincoln but Ford did find them a good home.

Sure, they have some good years when there's solid profits but it’s hard to self fund the
on going monster that is development costs. J/LR would be toast without old man Tata

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

JLR update:

They are making great profit, highest since 2015 off back of RR and Defender:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cer3w1ewvjyo

Jag is going through with it: this month they cease production of all petrol and diesel models, as per Bollore's Re-imagine strategy. They are doing this while Merc and BMW - and Stellantis, and Ford, and GM etc etc are backing off on their EV development. And while the momentum of EV sales has slowed, for various reasons. Important to note the Rangies and Defenders will remain with a petrol option.

https://www.drive.com.au/news/jaguar...stle-bromwich/

https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/202...swansong-model

Imagine what their profits would be if they reduced their warranty claims costs.....and I'd love to know what their accumulated profits/losses are for the last 20 years.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

Imagine what their profits would be if they reduced their warranty claims costs.....and I'd love to know what their accumulated profits/losses are for the last 20 years.

Wiki has results going back to 2009 near the bottom of the page at the link below
Yes, they make a profit most years but it feels like everything has to go right for them
and any change in the Luxury Market is amplified - BEVs are going to be a big challenge.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_Land_Rover


may 31 2024 full year results below

https://media.jaguarlandrover.com/ne...-31-march-2024

JLR DELIVERS STRONG FINANCIAL RESULTS WITH RECORD REVENUES FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2024
10 MAY 2024


* Record Q4 and FY24 revenue of £7.9 billion and £29.0 billion respectively
* Profit before tax and exceptional items (“PBT”) was £661 million in Q4;
* FY24 full year PBT was £2.2 billion, the highest since FY15
* EBIT margin in Q4 of 9.2%, FY24 EBIT margin of 8.5%
* Free cashflow was £892 million for Q4 and a record £2.3 billion for FY24
* Net debt reduced to £0.7 billion

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

JLR update:

They are making great profit, highest since 2015 off back of RR and Defender:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cer3w1ewvjyo

Jag is going through with it: this month they cease production of all petrol and diesel models, as per Bollore's Re-imagine strategy. They are doing this while Merc and BMW - and Stellantis, and Ford, and GM etc etc are backing off on their EV development. And while the momentum of EV sales has slowed, for various reasons. Important to note the Rangies and Defenders will remain with a petrol option.

https://www.drive.com.au/news/jaguar...stle-bromwich/

https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/202...swansong-model

Good luck competing with Tesla and BYD on their territory who have had a massive head start - no one else has managed to do far who aren't two pot jokes like JLR.

Best thing JLR has ever done was their ownership by Tata Motors, suddenly they started making absolutely wicked cars.

Now they've done a Renault and Peugeot and decided to turn their back on everything that made their success.

[Sprintey]

I think they are making Jag go electric to get the carboncredity fleet cred - so that RR and Defender can continue with those excellent new inline 6's and maybe the V8 halo at the top. Lots of PHEV versions too. It looks like they are investing in their own battery supply.

Now if anyone will buy the Jags - I really don't know. To impress me they'd have to go heavily on design and put absolutely lavish interior materials into it, they have this ability.

Been looking into the reliability of them and the petrol ingenium 4s seem good, seem to have a good rep with their customers. Diesels, not so much.