JLR executives met Georgia Governor Nathan Deal last month to discuss opening a factory in his state.

Jaguar Land Rover executives met Georgia Governor Nathan Deal last month to discuss opening a factory in his state, a U.S. newspaper reported.

Merry Hunter Hipp, a spokeswoman for the governor, said the Deal "made prospect calls." while on an economic development trip to England, where he also visited Pinewood Studios, which has a facility near Atlanta.

She declined to comment on the reported meeting with Jaguar Land Rover. "We do not discuss the calls due to the sensitive nature of these ongoing business communications," Hipp said in an email.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the meeting, citing unidentified people with knowledge of the matter.

In October, the UK's Sunday Times said Jaguar Land Rover is talking with several southern U.S. states about financial support for a factory that would eventually produce 200,000 vehicles a year.

A U.S. plant would enable JLR to avoid import tariffs and reduce averse effects of fluctuating currency rates, the paper said.

Jaguar Land Rover opened a new plant in China last year and plans to open a factory in Brazil in 2016. The UK luxury carmaker has expanded its product lineup and global presence since Tata Motors bought the company from Ford Motor in 2008.

The U.S. South's importance to the auto industry is increasing.

Mercedes-Benz USA, which has a plant in Alabama, is moving its headquarters to the Atlanta region from Montvale, New Jersey. BMW, Kia Motors and Volkswagen have factories in the region. Porsche has its U.S. headquarters in Atlanta.

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JANUARY USA SALES - JLR - Jaguar down (not a surprise) Land Rover up (not a surprise)

• Jaguar Land Rover U.S. January sales increase 9 percent for best January since 2004
• Land Rover up 13 percent to set new U.S. January sales record
• Three Land Rover models: Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover each have best ever U.S. January sales
• Jaguar F-TYPE delivers 70 percent increase with coupe and convertible lineup.

Jaguar Land Rover North America today reported January 2015 U.S. sales: Land Rover sales reached 5,281 units up 13 percent from 4,674 units in January 2014; Jaguar sales were 1,266 units, down 6 percent from 1,347 units in January 2014. Jaguar Land Rover North America January U.S. sales for both brands hit 6,547 units, a 9 percent increase from 6,021 units in January 2014. 

For the full year 2014, Jaguar Land Rover U.S. sales were up with 67,238 units sold in 2014 compared to 66,962 in 2013. For the full year 2014 the Land Rover brand established an all-time annual high for U.S. sales of 51,465.

"We are pleased to start 2015 with continued growth in so many of our models from Jaguar F-TYPE to Range Rover Evoque," said Joe Eberhardt, President and CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America. "For the Land Rover brand, we continued our record setting sales pace from 2014 to have our best January U.S. sales month ever."

U.S. BRAND HIGHLIGHTS

Land Rover

Land Rover established a new January U.S. sales record with 5,281 units sold.  Three Land Rover models: Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover each had best ever U.S. January sales

The Range Rover Evoque hit 1,403 units in January, increasing 60 percent from 879 units in January, 2014. The Range Rover Sport hit 1,752 units in January, increasing 9 percent from 1,612 units in January, 2014. The Range Rover hit 1,481 units in January, increasing 21 percent from 1,221 units in January, 2014.

For the full year 2014, Land Rover brand U.S. sales reached a new all-time high of 51,465 units. Full year sales were led by the brand volume leader Range Rover Sport with 17,897 sales up 12 percent; Range Rover with 12,830 sales up 5 percent and Range Rover Evoque with 12,440 sales up 9 percent.

Land Rover's 2015 model year line-up features five models: The 240-hp turbocharged 2.0 liter LR2, Range Rover Evoque; the LR4 powered by a 340-hp supercharged 3.0 liter V6 engine; the Range Rover Sport and Range Rover, available with either a 340-hp supercharged 3.0 liter V6 or 510-hp supercharged 5.0 liter V8 powertrain. In Spring, 2015, the brand adds the 2015 MY Land Rover Discovery Sport.

Jaguar

For the month of January, Jaguar decreased 6 percent to 1,266 from 1,347 units in January 2014 on slower sales of its sedan models. The Jaguar F-TYPE continues to grow with an increase of 70 percent to 301 units from 118 in January 2014. In 2015, the 16 MY Jaguar F-TYPE will newly be available with options of all-wheel drive and a manual transmission.

The 2015 Jaguar line-up features four models: The Jaguar XJ luxury sedan, powered by a 340-hp supercharged 3.0 liter V6 in rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive configuration, a 470-hp supercharged 5.0 liter V8 or a 550-hp supercharged 5.0 liter V8 in the XJR model. 

The Jaguar XF sports sedan powered by a 240-hp turbocharged four cylinder engine, a 340-hp supercharged 3.0 liter V6 in rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive configurations, a 470-hp supercharged 5.0 liter V8, a 510-hp Supercharged 5.0 liter V8 in the XFR, and a 550-hp Supercharged 5.0 liter V8 in the XFR-S. The XK coupe and convertible grand touring models are powered by either a 385-hp 5.0 liter V8 or a 510-hp supercharged 5.0 liter V8 in the XKR. 

Jaguar also offers the Jaguar XKR-S coupe and convertible with a 550-hp supercharged 5.0 liter V8.  Joining the 2015 F-TYPE line-up is the new F-TYPE Coupe powered by either a 340-hp supercharged 3.0 liter V6, a 380-hp supercharged 3.0 liter V6 in the F-TYPE S Coupe, or a 550-hp supercharged 5.0 liter V8 in the F-TYPE R Coupe. The F-TYPE convertible will remain available with three engine variants, a 340-hp supercharged 3.0 liter V6, a 380-hp supercharged 3.0 liter V6 in the F-TYPE S convertible, or a 495-hp supercharged 5.0 liter V8 in the F-TYPE V8 S convertible model.

In 2016 the Jaguar lineup in the U.S. will expand with the addition of the Jaguar XE compact sports sedan and the Jaguar F-PACE performance crossover.