Super luxury car maker Bentley strengthened its position as
the world’s most sought after luxury car brand after announcing 2014 as the
company’s record breaking year. The company deliver 11,020 cars during the
year, a 9 pc growth on the 2013 figure of 10,120 cars.
The key regions of the Americas, China, Europe including the
UK, and Middle East, all saw strong performance, with the Americas retaining
its position as Bentley’s number one market, while China closes the gap as the
second largest customer region.
The Continental GT V8 S and GT Speed coupe and convertible
and Flying Spur V8 all entered the market in 2014.
Bentley’s number one market throughout 2014 was the
Americas, closing the year delivering 3,186 cars, up from the 2013 number of
3,140. This accounted for 29 pc of total global deliveries.
China remained the second biggest Bentley market, with 2,670
cars delivered in total over the year, against the previous year of 2,191
cars.
In Europe, deliveries were up by 4 pc, with 1,539 cars
delivered to customers. Bentley’s home market, the UK, continued to perform
strongly, delivering 1,387 cars, up from 1,381 cars in 2013. Overall, this
means that 87 pc of Bentley’s cars exported from England to customers around
the world.
Bentley’s growing presence in the Middle East and Asia
Pacific resulted in deliveries hitting a record high in both markets.
Performance was strengthened in the Middle East by Bentley’s
flagship model, the Mulsanne, with total deliveries increasing by 7 pc, 1,263
cars, on 2013’s figure of 1,185 cars.
In Asia Pacific, deliveries rose by 48 pc on the previous
year, with 669 cars delivered in 2014, against 452 cars in 2013, driven by
success of the two-door Continental GT model line. Finally, Japan saw growth of
5 pc, delivering 306 cars against a total of 291 cars in 2013.
Commenting on the results, Bentley’s Chairman and CEO,
Wolfgang Dürheimer said, the year “2014 marked an exceptional year for Bentley,
as our record breaking pattern continued. We delivered more cars than ever
before, and we now operate in more markets than at any point in our 96 year
history, a perfect example of our truly international appeal.
“And this as we embark on a milestone year for the company,
in which we are working to deliver the world’s first luxury SUV, and set our
sights beyond this and to the future to try and maintain this significant
period of success.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, said, “Bentley
is an iconic British Brand that successfully exports around the world. Their
recent decisions to invest heavily on new site developments and create close to
1,000 jobs are fantastic news for Britain, and for Crewe where their cars are
manufactured.
“I want Britain to be a country where companies want to
invest, create high skilled jobs, and export, and so I am delighted that
Bentley has had such a successful year on all these fronts.”