Bentley Manchester has just achieved 6th place in the world Bentley rankings, driving the huge Tokyo branch back into 7th place and selling more luxury vehicles than Milan, Beijing and Newport Beach in Orange County, California.
The branch, in Knutsford, Cheshire, sold a luxury car every single day in December 2008 and just as many cars in 2008 as in 2007 – bucking the trend of the credit crunch. Constituting 10% of the UK market share for Bentley, these sales are expected to get an event bigger boost as the new Continental Supersports is launched. Unveiled in March at the Geneva Motorshow, the stunning ‘Extreme Bentley’ car is the most ecologically sound vehicle Bentley has ever produced. Ordering opened in April for this bio-fuel car.
Bentley has reduced overall vehicle production, however Jon Crossley, MD of Bentley Manchester, stresses that whilst there has been a general decrease in worldwide demand, the reduction in production levels is a protection strategy, put in place to retain the exclusive element of the cars for customers and guarantee the long term health of this luxury brand.
“The fact that we have achieved sixth place in the world rankings proves that the brand itself, and the demand for luxury vehicles, is still very strong in the UK,” comments Jon. “We are already experiencing a strong 2009, with the biofuel Supersports representing the ‘green shoots’ of Bentley - in more ways than one.”
