Aluminium shortage hurts Jaguar Land Rover's profit margins, affects Tata Motors' earnings

The aluminium supply constraints have compounded the challenges faced by European automakers, who are already grappling with a slowdown in demand. JLR's rivals, including Porsche AG and Mercedes-Benz Group AG, have also been affected by the same supplier issues, further straining production lines across the industry.

The British automaker behind Range Rover and Land Rover vehicles announced on November 8, 2024, that its pretax profit for the three months ending in September decreased by 10 per cent, dropping to £398 million (approximately $516 million) compared to the same period last year; however, revenue also declined by 5.6 per cent, totalling £6.5 billion.

Despite the setbacks, JLR remains optimistic, forecasting a recovery in production during the second half of its financial year as aluminium supply issues begin to ease. The company has maintained its full-year revenue guidance of approximately £30 billion, signalling confidence in the long-term outlook.

The aluminium shortage has also had a ripple effect on Tata Motors, JLR's parent company, which saw a dip in net income by 11 per cent to INR 33.4 billion rupees ($396 million) in the quarter. Revenue for the period fell by 3.9 per cent to 1.01 trillion rupees, slightly steeper than analysts had anticipated. JLR continues to be the largest contributor to Tata Motors, accounting for more than two-thirds of the group's total revenue.

As the aluminium supply chain stabilizes, JLR's recovery will be closely monitored, with industry experts watching how global supply constraints and shifting demand trends will impact the automotive sector's performance in the coming months.