Jaguar Land Rover has unveiled another record year of global sales after recording a nine per cent rise in 2014.

The West Midlands’ biggest manufacturer, which today unveiled plans to create 1,300 more jobs in the region, sold 462,678 vehicles around the world last year, which represented its fifth successive year of growth in sales.

The rise again came on the back of soaring sales in China, where it sold more than a quarter of its total output.

It marks the end of another successful year for the manufacturer, which delivered a significant jobs boost by opening its new engine factory at i54 near Wolverhampton.

Andy Goss, Jaguar Land Rover’s group sales operations director, said:  “Jaguar Land Rover has once again outperformed prior year performance, with retails up across all of our key regions.  With 12 significant new product actions planned for 2015 and the introduction of the new Jaguar XE and the Land Rover Discovery Sport, we anticipate retailing over half a million vehicles for the first time in the company’s history.

“2014 has been a year of significant achievements for Jaguar Land Rover, recognised by more than 100 international awards. We aim to make 2015 even better, by creating ever more exciting cars that deliver great customer experiences.”

JLR sold a total of 122,010 vehicles in the China region in 2014, up 28 per cent. It recorded a three per cent rise in continental Europe, totalling 86,310, 82,872 in the UK, up seven per cent and 74,981 in North America, up two per cent.

Land Rover had its best ever year with sales reaching 381,108, up nine per cent year-on-year. The company sold more Range Rovers, Range Rover Sports and Range Rover Evoques in 2014 than ever before, on the back of continued strong customer demand.

Jaguar sales were up six per cent for the year, retailing 81,570 vehicles.