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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced record sales results for a fifth consecutive year, with 4,063 cars sold globally during 2014 and a ‘50 per cent’ rise in Bahrain alone, described by the luxury car company as one of the ‘Middle East highlights’.
A spokesman said: “Rolls-Royce doesn’t release volumes on a global level so unfortunately we cannot share exact numbers with you. I can however tell you that the Middle East comprised around one fifth of global volumes.”
Strong sales were reported worldwide, with double-digit growth in most regions, North America (up 30 per cent), the Middle East (up 20 per cent) and Europe (up 40 per cent) and this ‘exceptional result’ means that sales have more than quadrupled since 2009.
The United States remained the company’s most significant individual market. Rolls-Royce’s home market, the United Kingdom, is the company’s fourth largest individual market (up 13 per cent).
Europe saw strong growth in a number of markets with Germany up by 30 per cent, while in Asia Pacific, Australia grew by 75 per cent, Japan by 60 per cent and Korea 20 per cent. Emerging markets such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Vietnam all showed promising growth, the company says.
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, chief executive officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said: “This fifth consecutive record year saw Rolls-Royce Motor Cars break through the 4,000 car sales level for the first time in its 111-year history.
“The result confirms that our strategy of balanced, sustainable and profitable growth is delivering and that Rolls-Royce remains the world’s leading luxury goods brand. This extraordinary success has been built on strong foundations: pinnacle products, dedicated people and a commitment to ensuring a balanced global sales picture.”
Sales were driven by strong orders for Ghost Series II, launched in November, and Wraith, which enjoyed its first full year of sales, while the incomparable Phantom remains the company’s pinnacle product.
Bespoke Collections including Waterspeed, Pinnacle Travel and Metropolitan, and unique creations such as the Maharaja Phantom Drophead Coupé contributed to Rolls Royce sustaining its leadership of the industry in the area of ‘individualisation’.
In 2014, Rolls Royce once again sold more cars in the BD90,000 net segment than any other manufacturer. As for the actual price of a Roller, well, as one motoring analyst joked, ‘if you need to ask the price you can’t afford one’.
2014 also marked the first year in which every Phantom, and the great majority of Ghost and Wraith models, left the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood in West Sussex, England, with significant Bespoke personalisation. A record number of customers spent personal one-on-one time with Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke design consultants commissioning their personalised vehicles.
To meet such strong demand, particularly for Bespoke cars, the company has created more than 200 new permanent jobs in the past 18 months. More than 1,500 people are now employed at the home of Rolls-Royce.
Further evidence of Rolls-Royce’s commitment to expansion came in September when the company announced plans for its new Technology and Logistics Centre at Bognor Regis, close to Goodwood. Construction of the new 30,000m2 facility, which is due to open next year, is well underway and around 200 new and existing staff in technical and logistics roles will be employed at the centre.
Business Secretary, Vince Cable said:. “The UK’s automotive industry is thriving with a new car rolling off the production line every 20 seconds, and increasing levels of investment that’s helping to secure local jobs. Through our industrial strategy we are backing companies like Rolls-Royce Motor Cars as they go from strength to strength, giving them the right environment to invest with confidence and create high-skilled jobs”.
For further Rolls-Royce information contact Euro Motors on 17750850.
