Luxury car brand Bentley has sets record sales in China as Geely and FAW also look to improve revenue.
Bentley Continental GT Image: Bentley Motors |
UK-based Bentley Motors sold nearly 400 cars in the first four months of 2011, beating last year's record figures by a massive 66%. As China's economy and vehicle parc grows exponentially, the luxury end of the market is clearly blossoming, with sales mainly boosted by the Continental and Mulsanne models.
According to the VW-owned company, the arrival of the new sports-performance Continental GT executive express is also attracting interest, with 50 orders placed when the model was launched at the Shanghai Auto Show earlier this year.
Meanwhile Chinese automakers Geely and FAW are also pushing for sales. FAW - which has joint venture partnerships with VW and Toyota - is aiming to increase its market share by adding four new models to its product range over the next three years. The Changchun-based manufacturer is set to start producing compact and mid-range sedans from 2012, with an SUV to be added the following year and an MPV in 2014. FAW is already seeing improved sales in 2011, with a 7% Q1 increase on the same time last year to around 37,500 vehicles.
And Geely told its shareholders that it is aiming to double its vehicle exports this year to as much as 50,000 units, or around 10% of its total vehicle output. To date, the company has mainly exported to developing countries, but began shipping vehicles to Australia at the beginning of the year with a view to testing more established markets.