Jaguar Land Rover celebrated a second consecutive month of rising sales in the challenging Chinese market in August, though the car maker still saw a global dip.
The firm sold 34,176 vehicles around the world in August, a decrease of 6.7% compared to August 2018.
The rise in China will serve as a shot in the arm for the under pressure manufacturer.
The month saw a 17.4% rise in Chinese sales compared to August last year.
Jaguar Land Rover continues to face a raft of challenges, including declining demand for diesel vehicles and uncertainty over Brexit. It has also had to contend with plunging sales in China.
Jaguar Land Rover said the Chinese sales increase was a sign its local turnaround plan there had gathered momentum.
In July Jaguar Land Rover announced a loss of £395m for the second quarter of the year.
Despite its difficulties, Jaguar Land Rover’s CEO Ralf Speth has pledged the company will return to profitability by the end of the current financial year.
UK August sales were down by 21.6% compared to August 2018, and other markets also saw a dip - Europe (1.4%), North America (9.0%), and overseas (24.7%).
The all-new Range Rover Evoque had a successful month, with sales up 50.9% year-on-year.
Watch: Jaguar I-Pace revealed
And the Jaguar XJ, which has now ended production, saw a rise of 31.1%.
Sales of the Range Rover Sport rose by 6.4% while the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace also celebrated a sales increase.
Other models saw sales down, including the Land Rover Discovery Sport, which is soon to be replaced by a refreshed model.
Jaguar retail sales in August were 9,702 vehicles, down 17.8% year-on-year and Land Rover retailed 24,474 vehicles, down 1.4% compared to August 2018.
Jaguar Land Rover’s chief commercial officer Felix Brautigam said: “While the global market remains challenging, we have seen a second month of consecutive growth in China.
“For Jaguar, customer demand for the World Car of the Year-winning I-Pace continues to go from strength to strength, cementing the vehicle’s position as one of the world’s leading premium electric SUVs."
Mr Brautigam added: “For Land Rover, the all-new Range Rover Evoque is now on sale.
“With its advanced technology based on the new PTA architecture and electrified drivetrains it is the most refined, most capable and most efficient compact Range Rover ever.
“The comprehensively re-engineered Land Rover Discovery Sport will be launched in China later this year further solidifying its position as a best-selling model.
“We are confident that we have the right strategy in place to support long-term sustainable growth.”
