Crewe, 2012-01-03
• Global sales up 37% with 7003 deliveries to customers
• December sales (1059 cars) - best single month since
recession and second highest
ever
• America still Bentley's number one market with sales up
by over a third to 2021
• China confirms number two status with sales virtually
doubling to a record 1839
• All major markets increased with Europe up by over a half
due mainly to high
demand in Germany, up by nearly 90%
• New Continental GT coupe and Mulsanne drive sales with
new Continental GTC
off to a flying start
Bentley bounced back to pre-recession levels of demand
during 2011, with strong growth in all major markets.
Globally, sales were up 37% to 7003 for the calendar year
with sales accelerating as the year progressed. December
sales were 1059 (up 69% on the same month in 2010), the
best month since Bentley's pre-recession record of 2007
and the second best month ever.
The US continues to be Bentley's number one market with
2021 cars sold in 2011, an increase of 32%. For the first
time ever, however, China took second spot with sales for
the region virtually doubling to 1839 and surpassing the
previous year's record before the end of July. This
achievement is even more remarkable considering Bentley
has been present in Mainland China for less than ten
years.
Other regions have also performed very well. Continental
European sales rebounded to 1187 (an increase of 53%) led
by strong demand in Germany where sales have increased by
a remarkable 88%. The UK proved to be extremely
challenging over the past months, but still saw an
increase of over five per cent with 1031 cars sold.
Indeed, all major markets are up including the Middle
East despite the political instability that has beset
certain markets.
Bentley's Chairman and Chief Executive, Wolfgang
Dürheimer, said:
"It has been a tremendously good year for Bentley. The
dramatic sales growth reflects a global strength to the
Brand and a recognition of the quality, craftsmanship and
engineering excellence of our cars. It is also testament
to the work of the entire Bentley Team whose passion and
daily commitment has delivered this outstanding result.
It has been particularly pleasing to see renewed interest
in Bentley in established as well as and new and emerging
markets, all of which is contributing to a positive
financial result for 2011.
"We want that success to continue and, with a new
Continental V8 set to attract new customers in 2012, have
ambitious but realistic plans which reflect global
economic conditions as much as our new product line
up."
The strong performance was the result of strong demand
across the range, with the new Continental GT
unsurprisingly proving the most popular Bentley with 2404
GTs delivered - over a third of Bentley's total sales
volume. Sales were boosted significantly in December with
the first deliveries of the new soft-top Continental GTC,
a new model which has receivedfantastic reviews from
media and customers alike. Together with the Bentley
Mulsanne, which continues to maintain a healthy order
bank constantly replenished as more customers get to
drive the flagship Bentley, sales growth is expected to
continue unabated during 2012.
Bentley Motors is the third largest R&D investor in the
UK's automotive sector and the 18th largest
nationally. The company employs almost 4,000 people in
Crewe which is home to all its operations including
design, R&D, engineering and production. The combination
of fine craftsmanship, using skills that have been handed
down through generations, alongside engineering expertise
and cutting-edge technology is unique to UK luxury
vehicle manufacturers such as Bentley. It is also an
example of high-value British manufacturing at its best.
Bentley exports over £500m worth of goods every year to
established markets like the US, as well as emerging
markets such as China and South America.
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