Monday, Jan 11, 2016
Dubai: The Phantoms, Ghosts and Wraiths continue to cast a fine spell as the UAE displaced China to emerge as the second biggest global market for Rolls-Royce car sales during 2015. The US retains its top position, with China, the UK and Saudi Arabia in third, fourth and fifth spots.
The luxury automotive brand sold 3,785 units worldwide, coming lower than the 4,063 units it sold in 2014. Even then, 2015 proved the second-best year ever in the company’s history. (Individual region-wise breakdown has not been provided.) While its China performance might have shown some deceleration, the Gulf markets pulled their weight. In fact, its Abu Dhabi dealership (Abu Dhabi Motors) retains the position of ‘best-selling dealership’ worldwide for a third straight year. The Saudi partner came in second and ahead of the one in Beverly Hills.
The Dubai dealer (AGMC) and the one on Qatar were fourth and fifth respectively.
These were also enough to affirm Rolls’ hold in the Middle East’s super-premium category, with starting prices of €200,000. And it is a position it has been holding on for a decade now.
But the competition is going to get intense this year, with Bentley Motors’ shortly to charge in with the all-new Bentayga SUV. And a Rolls’ SUV — while the development has been confirmed — is still at least couple of years away from making it to the showrooms.
There is still the Dawn, mind you. Rolls’ convertible — unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show — is to make its presence felt in these markets from the second quarter onwards. And the brand new nameplate can conjure up some impressive volumes going by initial responses.
The order book ‘has smashed all previous records’, the carmaker said announcing the 2015 numbers. Bearing a 6.6-litre V12, the starting price for the Dawn is from Dh1.5 million, which in turn is just above that of the Wraith. It can do the 0-100 kkh in 4.9 seconds and has a top speed of 250 kmh.
According to Brett Soso, Regional Director for the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and South America, “We do not make volume predictions at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, nor are we a mass volume manufacturer. However, we can say that the Dawn has been exceptionally well-received in the region.
“With that in mind, Dawn will contribute to what we hope will be another successful year for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in the region, and we expect it to build on the success of Ghost and Wraith in attracting a new, younger generation of successful men and women to the marquee.
“Our dominance in the ultra-luxury segment is testament both to the resilience of our customers as entrepreneurs and wealth generators in the economy.”
By Manoj Nair Associate Editor
Gulf News 2016. All rights reserved.
