Luxury Car Maker Rolls Out Big Plans for Asia

 

China and India are expected to form the thrust of super-luxury car marque Rolls-Royce's expansion plans in the next few years, chairman and chief executive Ian Robertson has revealed.

In an exclusive interview with AFP, Mr Robertson said China had become the company's third-largest market in the past year and India was likely to close the gap soon.

He said China's four successful dealerships would be complemented with three more in the New Year, while India - which recently witnessed a return of the brand after a 50-year absence - would see another outlet open next year.

"Growth in Greater China is unique, it's very special," said Mr Robertson, in Hong Kong for the unveiling of a 14-strong fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantoms that will ferry guests of the famous Peninsula Hotel around the city.

"We've seen 60 per cent growth there this year - it has overtaken Japan as our biggest Asian market," he added. "Usually 5 per cent either way means the difference between a great year and a not so great year in other markets; that gives you some indication of how big China has become."

For Rolls-Royce, Greater China encompasses Hong Kong, which in the 1990s laid claim to owning the highest per-capita number of the luxury cars.

Mr Robertson said that title was likely to be held now by Los Angeles, which accounted for a third of all their cars sold in the United States, still Rolls-Royce's biggest market, ahead of Britain.

While, Hong Kong remained an important sales point, the company's three other Chinese dealerships in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing are propelling the country's sales.

Guangzhou, the regional capital of China's wealthy southern industrial heartland, has seen terrific growth.

"At one point last year, sales in Guangzhou were neck and neck with those from our Beverley Hills dealership," said Mr Robertson. "Beverley Hills has since taken the lead again."

Such is the pace of growth among Chinese buyers that the company is to extend its dealerships to Hangzhou, Shenzhen and Chengdu.

Leading the charge is Rolls-Royce's 2003-launched Phantom, the first car to roll off its new Goodwood, southern England production line following the company's acquisition by German vehicle manufacturer BMW in 1998.

Mr Robertson expected Rolls-Royce to have sold 600 of the cars worldwide by the end of the year, a 16-year record for the former British company.

Among the milestones in the new car's history is the brand's return to India, which had snubbed the car for the majority of the past 50 years.

"After Indian independence Rolls-Royce was not made welcome, along with many other foreign brands," Mr Roberston said.

With the country's recent economic growth has come a liberalisation of trade and Rolls-Royce opened its first Indian dealership in Mumbai last year. Another is planned for the capital New Delhi next year.

"We are particularly pleased with the return to India because it is the country we've had our longest relationship with," Mr Robertson said. "Our return was marked by very strong sales and we are expecting at least double-figure growth in the coming years."

Asia was likely to feature heavily in the marketing of the company's next model, the as yet unnamed convertible, which will debut at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

"We will certainly be marketing it in Asia and we have strong advance orders already," Mr Robertson said.(Source:South China Morning Post ) /[2006 Rolls-Royce Phantom. Photos: Rolls-Royce. Photo: canadiandriver.com]