We're all going Continental: sales of Bentley marque leap globally
British luxury carmaker Bentley saw sales leap last year driven by strong demand for its latest Continental model from America and China.
The Crewe-based manufacturer - which is owned by Volkswagen - today said that it sold 7003 cars last year which represents an increase of 37% on the previous year. Sales accelerated throughout the year with December producing the second-best monthly total of 1059 which was 69% on the same month in 2010.
"It has been a tremendously good year for Bentley," said chairman and chief executive Wolfgang Dürheimer. "It has been particularly pleasing to see renewed interest in Bentley in established as well as 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, we have ambitious but realistic plans which reflect global economic conditions as much as our new product line-up."
Sales of Bentleys to America rose by more than third to 2021, those to China almost doubled to 1839 and even the UK saw a 5% rise to 1031.
