Bentley sales on the right track
SALES of Bentley cars have continued their positive traction in the three months to the end of September.
The Crewe-based company has now sold 6,516 cars worldwide in the first nine months of this year, up 9% in 2012.
The manufacturer’s largest market, the Americas, sustained its strong growth, with Europe and the Middle East also posting impressive gains, driven by sales success across all model lines; the new Flying Spur, Continental GT and Mulsanne.
Kevin Rose, director for sales, marketing and aftersales, said: “Strong performance from our W12 models continued, with the Continental GT Speed and Continental GT Speed Convertible proving successful in all territories. This, added to increases in our V8 and Mulsanne models, maintains our impressive performance and strongly reinforces our position as market leader among our direct competitors in the luxury car market.”
Sales to the Americas are so far 16% ahead at 2,022. Buoyed by recent dealer expansion, with 44 showrooms in Continental Europe alone, the European market posted a 14% to 1,081 cars, with the UK delivering 1,055 cars, representing a 24% increase.
The Mulsanne, Bentley’s flagship model, continued to prove popular in the Middle East, with a 53% hike, with the market as a whole growing to 596 cars, rising by 26%. There was a similar story in Asia Pacific, where 315 cars were delivered to customers, a 38% uplift.
China, which a year ago was challenging the US to be Bentley’s biggest market, has yet to see a recovery, and sales are down 19% so far this year. Part of this is down to customers delaying spending in the first half as they were waiting for the new Flying Spur to be launched.
The company, part of Germany’s Volkswagen group, said it remains optimistic of hitting double digit growth sales figures for 2013. It employs around 4,000 at its base on Pyms Lane.
