Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and Bentley Motors record sales figures for 2021
Figures released in January by both Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and Bentley Motors show that each company smashed its own sales record last year, despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and the global shortage of semiconductors. Britain’s two best-known luxury car brands saw an increase in demand, leading to a major boost in worldwide sales.
It proved to be the most successful year in Rolls-Royce’s 117-year history, with volumes increasing 49% year-on-year. The company sold 5586 cars globally in 2021 – an increase of 1836 units compared with pandemic-affected 2020. It also represented an impressive 461 extra cars compared with the previous record set in 2019.
Rolls-Royce says the sales volumes achieved in 2021 make it the “undisputed leader in the plus- €250,000 (£209,000) segment”, with growth said to be largely driven by the Ghost saloon – its newest model – and bolstered by the launch of the Ghost Black Badge in October. The company also cites steady sales of the larger Phantom and Cullinan models, with orders running into the third quarter of 2022. The Goodwood plant is running at maximum capacity on a two-shift pattern, with current lead times estimated at around a year. The UK market proved particularly successful for Rolls-Royce, with a total of 313 cars sold in 2021 – a total that comprised 128 examples of the Cullinan, plus 88 Ghosts, 41 Wraiths, 33 Dawns and 23 Phantoms. Sales of pre-owned Rolls-Royce models under the company’s Provenance scheme also hit a high, while orders for bespoke commissions in the vein of the Phantom Oribe and Phantom Tempus are said to “remain at record levels”. Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, called the 2021 sales figures “hugely encouraging as we prepare for the historic launch of Spectre”, the company’s first all-electric model.
BENTLEY BOOST
There was equally good news from Crewe, with Bentley announcing its second consecutive year of record sales. A total of 14,659 new Bentleys were delivered in 2021, an increase of 31% over the previous year, with the company attributing the growth to new-model launches and healthy demand for its latest hybrid variants. A total of eleven new derivatives debuted last year, including the 650bhp Continental GT Speed.
The Bentayga SUV, which is now offered with a hybrid powertrain, was Bentley’s best-selling car and enjoyed its most successful year ever. One in five Bentayga sales – which made up 40% of Bentley orders overall – were hybrids. The Continental GT, meanwhile, accounted for 33% of the firm’s sales figures, split 60% coupé and 40% convertible. The closely-related Flying Spur put in a strong performance in its first full year on sale, making up 27% of sales.
Bentley expects the model to bring further success in 2022 with the introduction of a new hybrid version. Adrian Hallmark, Bentley chairman and CEO, said: “This is our second record sales year in successive years and is a positive sign of our brand strength, operational excellence, strong global demand and affirmation of our strategic priorities.”
All markets achieved double-digit growth for Bentley, with record sales in the US and China. The company sold 1328 cars in the UK, representing an increase of 14% over 2020. The US remains Bentley’s biggest market, with sales of 4212 cars, although it was the Chinese market that grew the most – with a 40% increase to 4033 units. Europe took delivery of 2520 cars, an increase of 15%.
Bentley achieved double-digit growth in all markets, with record sales in the US and China The Bentayga accounted for 40% of Bentley sales, with the latest Flying Spur on 27%. Below: Rolls-Royce’s 2021 global new-car sales showed a year-on-year increase of 49%.