Bentley sales in China hit new record

Bentley boss Wolfgang Duerheimer at last year's Shanghai Show.

Bentley has revealed that China has now overtaken the US as its biggest market with 578 sales in the first quarter of 2012 – up 84.9 per cent.

This time last year we reported that Bentley sales were flying in China and closing in on the US as the most important market for Crewe’s products.

A year on and the inevitable has happened with Bentley reporting that sales in China in the first quarter of 2012 hit 578 – an increase of 84.9 per cent – moving China to the top of the Bentley sales league table.

Even though sales in China were strong, sales in Bentley’s previous most important market – the USA – also rose (by 35.6 per cent) and sales overall rose by an impressive 45.6 per cent to 1,759 cars. Similarly impressive sales figures were also seen across most of Bentley’s markets, with only the UK Bentley market stagnant.

Bentley boss, Wolfgang Duerheimer, said:

I am delighted that our first quarter performance has consolidated the growth we saw in 2011 and would like to welcome China to its new role as our largest market.
Bentley’s customers in China, as those elsewhere, value our emphasis on the finest craftsmanship and automotive engineering. They know that buying a Bentley is an unrivalled combination of luxury and performance.

And with the Beijing Motor Show just round the corner we know Bentley is planning something special for its now most important market.

But more on that later this week – we can’t tell you yet.