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Jaguar Pauses UK Sales Until 2026 Amid Shift To Electric Vehicles

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 13, 2024

For the first time since WWII, Jaguar, the carmaker famously favoured by British Prime Ministers and royals, has halted new car sales in the UK. As reported by Bloomberg, this suspension will remain until 2026, when Jaguar plans to relaunch with a fully electric, high-end lineup.

Key Details

Temporary Stop Until EV Transition: Jaguar’s UK sales will be suspended until the launch of its upcoming all-electric models.
Production Shift: Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), owned by Tata Motors Ltd., will halt the assembly of its E-Pace and I-Pace models in Austria starting in December, with the remaining output redirected to markets outside the UK.
No New Jaguars for Britain: This marks the first absence of new Jaguars in the UK market since WWII. Production of the XE, XF sedans, and F-Type sports cars ended earlier this year, with only the F-Pace SUV continuing for export until early 2026.

Jaguar Land Rover announced plans in early 2021 to transition Jaguar into a fully electric brand following former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s goal to end new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030. However, the shift to electric has proven challenging for the company and UK carmakers more broadly.

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The UK’s zero-emission vehicle mandate, which came into effect this year, requires 22% of all new cars sold by each automaker to be zero-emission. Despite this, only 18% of new UK registrations as of October were battery-electric, leaving many manufacturers short of the target. Some, like Jaguar, are expected to purchase regulatory credits from high-performers such as Tesla to meet compliance.

Jaguar’s need for reinvention has been evident, with management signalling an overhaul is imminent. The brand will offer a preview of its new luxury electric lineup on December 2, during Miami Art Week. The launch of these models is anticipated by mid-2026, a delay from initial timelines, marking a major milestone in Jaguar’s journey toward an all-electric future.

The Decline Of Smartwatches: A Turning Point In The Wearable Tech Industry

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 13, 2025

For the first time in history, the smartwatch market is facing a significant downturn. Shipments are expected to drop by 7% in 2024, marking a major shift in a segment that has been growing steadily for over a decade. A report by Counterpoint reveals that while Apple still holds the top spot, its dominance is being challenged by a surge from Chinese brands like Huawei, Xiaomi, and BBK. Even as the overall market struggles, some companies are thriving.

The Big Picture: Why Smartwatches Are Slowing Down

Apple’s flagship products have long been the driving force in the smartwatch market, but even the tech giant is feeling the pressure. The company’s shipments are projected to fall by 19% this year, though it will remain the market leader. Meanwhile, brands from China are capitalizing on the shift, with Huawei showing an impressive 35% growth in sales, driven by the booming domestic market and a broad range of offerings, including smartwatches for kids.

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Xiaomi, too, is experiencing remarkable success, with a staggering 135% increase in sales. In contrast, Samsung is seeing more modest growth, up 3%, thanks to its latest Galaxy Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch Ultra series.

While some companies are succeeding, the broader market is facing headwinds. The biggest factor behind the overall decline is the slowdown in India, where consumer demand for smartwatches has stagnated. The segment is suffering from a lack of innovation and fresh updates, leaving many consumers with little incentive to upgrade their devices. Add to that market saturation, and it’s clear why many users are content with their current models. The Chinese market, however, is bucking the trend, showing 6% growth in 2024.

A Glimpse Into The Future

Looking ahead, the smartwatch market may begin to recover in 2025, driven by the increasing integration of AI and advanced health monitoring tools. As these technologies evolve, the industry could see a resurgence in demand.

Huawei’s Remarkable Comeback

Huawei’s impressive performance in the smartwatch space signals a broader recovery for the company, which has been hit hard by US sanctions. Once the world’s largest smartphone maker, Huawei’s business was decimated when it lost access to advanced chips and Google’s Android operating system in 2019. But in China, Huawei has maintained its dominance, with its market share growing to 17% in 2024.

This resurgence was partly driven by the launch of the Mate 60 Pro, a smartphone featuring a 7-nanometer chip developed in China. Despite US sanctions, the device surprised many with its capabilities, a testament to China’s rising investment in domestic semiconductor production.

In February, Huawei also unveiled its Mate XT foldable smartphone, the world’s first device to fold in three directions. Running on HarmonyOS 4.2, Huawei’s proprietary operating system, the phone further demonstrates the company’s resilience and ability to innovate despite international challenges.

Huawei’s smartwatch offerings are also catching attention, particularly the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro, which launched in September of last year. With a premium titanium alloy design, a high-resolution AMOLED display, and impressive health tracking features, the GT 5 Pro has become a standout in the market, available to both Android and iOS users.

A Brief History Of The Smartwatch Revolution

The smartwatch market has had its fair share of milestones, but the real breakthrough came in 2012 with the Pebble, a Kickstarter-funded project that raised over $10 million. Pebble introduced the world to smartphone integration, app downloads, and long battery life, becoming the first truly mass-market smartwatch.

In 2013, Samsung entered the game with the Galaxy Gear, marking its first attempt at wearable tech. But it was Apple’s entry in 2014 that truly set the industry on fire. The Apple Watch’s sleek design, integration with iOS, and emphasis on health and fitness catapulted it to the top of the market, establishing a standard that many other brands would try to follow.

By 2021, the smartwatch industry had grown to over $30 billion in revenue, with annual growth reaching 20%. Yet now, it finds itself at a crossroads, with innovation stagnating and market saturation taking a toll.