Bentley reports soaring sales

Luxury car company Bentley today reported soaring sales for 2011, with a big increase in purchases in China.

The company, based at Crewe in Cheshire, sold 7,003 cars last year, with December 2011 proving Bentley's second-best month ever.

The company said the UK had proved "extremely challenging over the past months" but that UK sales, at 1,031 for 2011, were still more than 5% up on 2010.

America was Bentley's biggest market last year, accounting for 2,011 of the total cars sold - a figure 32% higher than in 2010.

Sales in China nearly doubled to 1,839, pushing the country up into second spot for Bentley sales worldwide.

Continental European sales rose 53% to 1,187 in 2011.

Worldwide, sales of Bentley cars in December 2011 reached 1,059 - up 69% on December 2010.

Bentley's chairman and chief executive Wolfgang Durheimer said: "It has been a tremendously good year for Bentley. The dramatic sales growth reflects a global strength to the brand and a recognition of the quality, craftsmanship and engineering excellence of our cars.

"It is also testament to the work of the entire Bentley team whose passion and daily commitment has delivered this outstanding result."

PA