Sales of Rolls-Royce motor cars have increased by 64 per cent for the first half of 2011 compared to the same period last year, the company announced on 7th July 2011.
A total of 1,592 new cars have been delivered to customers, the best sales figures since the company was launched in 2003.
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, proudly stated:
“This is an excellent half-year result and demonstrates the confidence that our customers have in our company and our products. The first six months of the year have also seen Rolls-Royce celebrate our unique heritage, with the centenary of the Spirit of Ecstasy, and demonstrate our innovation, with the Phantom Experimental Electric, 102EX.”
Growth was especially strong in Asia Pacific with sales rising by over 170 per cent, closely followed by the Middle East and the United States, which both rose by 40 per cent.
Germany was another good market for Rolls-Royce with sales rising by 60 per cent. Customers new to the brand accounted for 4 out of every 5 new Ghosts sold there.
The strong sales growth is especially satisfying as 2011 marks the centenary of the ‘Spirit of Ecstasy,’ the iconic emblem of the marque. To celebrate, Rolls-Royce has designed the ‘Phantom Spirit of Ecstasy Centenary Collection’ limited to 100 cars. No further details or prices have been released yet.
The centenary is also being marked with a number of events, including ‘100 Motor Cars for 100 Years’ to be held on the 15th July 2011 at Goodwood, UK. The day will see 100 Rolls-Royce cars from 1911 to the present day gathering at their home in the West Sussex countryside for a day of celebrations, concluding with a parade lap of the Goodwood Motor Circuit.
The prototype all-electric 102EX – or Phantom Experimental Electric – which was unveiled at the Geneva International Motorshow in March 2011, will continue its world tour being shown to media representatives, potential customers, dealers and current Rolls-Royce owners to allow the company to collate their thoughts, ideas and feedback.
The Rolls-Royce range is, in many ways, an ideal candidate for an all-electric car. The limited range is less of a problem because their owners tend to use them primarily for short journeys in cities and towns. The lack of noise and smoothness inherent in an electrically-powered car is also well suited to the refinement that their owners are accustomed to, avoiding the need to dampen and otherwise remove combustion-engine derived intrusion.
The Rolls-Royce range starts at £200,500 ($320,000, €225,000) for the Ghost whilst prices for the Phantom start at £285,200 ($455,000, €320,000).
