The Kingston Industrial Garage showroom on Spanish Town Road, Kingston. - file

Kingston Industrial Garage (KIG), The Jamaican dealer for premium brands Land Rover and Jaguar vehicles, said Wednesday that Ford Motor Company's sale of the brands to Tata Motors would not affect the local distributorship.

KIG, a Lascelles deMercado subsidiary, sells 75 units of the two brands annually, Sales and Marketing Manager Kent LaCroix told the Financial Gleaner.

On Wednesday, America's Ford Motor announced jointly with Tata that the Indian group would buy the brands for US$2.3 billion, from which Ford would net US$1.7 billion - taking a substantial hit on the US$2.5 billion it paid for Jaguar in 1989 and the US$2.7 billion at which Land Rover was acquired in 2000.

Jaguar worldwide has performed poorly under Ford. LaCroix did not disclose individual sales numbers, but from observation, Land Rovers are more visible here, while Jaguars are rarely seen on the road.

The brands sell for $6 million upwards.

KIG is also the dealer for Subaru and Ford vehicles in Jamaica and is reportedly in negotiations for the Volvo dealership.

The company is already the official repairers for Volvo vehicles in Jamaica, a luxury brand also owned by Ford Motor.

john.myers@gleanerjm.com