I have no skin in the game, but the New Statesman doesn’t agree
“…. The JLR board are unsentimental and hardheaded business people who have understood that the Jaguar brand, for all its charm, has only really made headway in the Anglosphere. In ditching the heritage (at least for now) in favour of a more “disruptive”, futuristic aesthetic, Jaguar hope to connect with a younger, more global audience (including in China, where Land Rovers are already very popular). And this modernisation goes beyond style. Unlike the car giant Volkswagen – which, like much of German industry, is caught between the death of the combustion engine and the new world of electric motors waiting to be born – Jaguar is going all-in on electric. The company recognises that, irrespective of government meddling and environmental hectoring from the progressive media, the motor industry is undergoing a paradigm change and the electric powertrain is the inevitable future. None of this (including the brand reboot) ought to be a surprise: Jaguar originally announced its “reimagine” strategy in 2021.
As for going “woke”, the JLR board will be delighted by the fuss. Anheuser-Busch, the US brewing giant, probably came to regret using the transgender social media personality, Dylan Mulvaney, to promote Bud Light beer in 2023. The ensuing row and a conservative-led boycott of the company’s products led to a substantial drop in sales and a consequent share price reduction. But studies have suggested several “woke” rebrands actually worked – simply by getting eyeballs on a product if not exactly shifting any social mores. JLR are deliberately seeking to be provocative and address an entirely new audience. By not having any Jaguar cars available to buy until 2026, JLR doesn’t need to concern itself with a short-term fall in sales – a near 100 per cent drop during the next 12-18 months is already baked-in. It seems upsetting the regulars on GB News is a small price to pay if the world is talking about the Jaguar brand again.….”
I guess “wait and see”.
S