Rolls-Royce to produce 10% more Phantoms in 2008

Business at Goodwood is, well... good. As such, Rolls-Royce, already having dedicated millions of dollars to enhancing its production facilities, is looking to add more hands in a bid to keep up with the ever-growing demand for its cars. Production in 2007 was up 25% over 2006 to 1,000 units, and RR execs see another 10% of growth likely for 2008. Credit emerging markets for the increase in demand, especially China, in which 100 cars are expected to be sold by year's end. That's up from 71 of the mega-sleds sold there in 2006. Where people are coming into money, they're buying Rolls-Royces. After all, as status symbols go, the Spirit of Ecstasy is almost without peer, and few luxury objects communicate wealth like a big new Roller. The Phantom (saloon or drophead, take your pick) might well be the ultimate arrival machine. Things are going so well, in fact, that the automaker is basically sold-out through 2009. Better get that second production line going soon, guys.

[Source: Financial Times via AutoBlog.com]

Rolls Royce Steps Up Production

The rapid economic growth in emerging markets and the swelling demand for Rolls Royce luxury cars, up by 25% in 2007, has pushed delivery times to nearly two years. According to Ian Robertson, chairman of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, production has been sold out all the way to mid-2009.

While Rolls Royce's Goodwood plant has rolled out roughly 1,000 units of the Phantom and the Drophead Coupe in 2007, chairman Robertson expects sales to grow even faster in 2008. Robertson adds that "a lot of our dealers say they have simply stopped taking any more orders." Chairman Robertson has announced drastic measures to step up production to meet the increasing demand from wealthy individuals in emerging markets.

On top of its 650-strong workforce, Rolls Royce will recruit another 300 to 400 workers and invest an estimated £10 and £15 million in the Goodwood plant. When BMW revived the ailing luxury brand in 2002 with the Phantom luxury saloon, BMW invested approximately £65 million in the plant.

With China emerging as Rolls Royce's third biggest market, Robertson expects 100 cars to be sold this year, up from 71 cars in 2006. Robertson adds that it is "not bad when you consider we had not sold a single Rolls-Royce vehicle in China prior to 2003."

[Source: WCF]

BMW is just hitting on a fronts. Germany's Toyota I love it.

M

This might be good news for Bentley and Maybach.

I doubt it. Having a wait list adds to the allure of getting high-end luxury items. Anyone with the money can walk into a Maybach dealer and get a car but then they have to say "I wanted a Rolls but couldn't get one". I don't think the super rich would enjoy having to say that.

And please don't believe that a RR dealer wouldn't take another order, absurd hype.

M

I wasn't being serious. Of course they are getting everything out of this more succesful situation as the initial demand didn't meet the sales target. Every sold car is thus important for them.

This is very good news for Rolls Royce!

I wonder what Maybach is thinking while Bentley and Rolls are doing so well. As we see, the market is there for Maybach, they just aren't selling the right product!