Jaguar and Land Rover rake in the roubles

Aug 29 2008 Bill Caven

Jaguar and Land Rover rake in the roubles

NOT so long ago car salesmen were regarded as shady characters often wearing ill-fitting sheepskin coats and puffing on big cigars.

Now this image has transformed dramatically as Russia becomes the land of milk and honey for them.

Many are earning huge bonuses as they rake up record sales in the last year or so.

Among them are Jaguar dealers who are presently clocking up bumper business.

They sold 1,000 new luxury cars during 2007 earning many sales staff big bonuses.

However that figure has already soared to more than double as interest in the brand increases.

Already the Big Cat has reported that over 500 of its latest offering, the XF have been snapped up.

Similarly its TATA-owned brother, Land Rover is also surging ahead as the boom kicks in full flow.

The off-road specialists have clocked up more than 12,600 sales in the first six months of the year.

And its bosses are now revising their forecasts and predicting a final tally of 21,000-plus.

This would be a new record for Land Rover who believe the expansion in the SUV will continue in the years to come.

A spokesman said: "While we have suffered in some markets Land Rover is more than making up for it in Russia.

"The brand has always been perceived as a premium luxury brand and this is attracting great interest in our models.¿