Rolls-Royce to create 100 new jobs after record sales

Over 3,630 cars were delivered to customers in 2013, the highest in the marque's history

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars bespoke Mazarine Blue Ghost

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has roared to a fourth record year in a row with global sales of 3630 cars in 2013.

For the first time ever, UK-based Rolls-Royce sold as many cars to China as it did to the US and together the two countries make up nearly two-third of sales. Demand is so good that the 110-year-old firm is hiring another 100 people at its Goodwood-based manufacturing plant.

Chief executive Torsten Müller-Ötvös said Abu Dhabi remains the busiest dealership in the world, and cars sold to the Middle East rose by 17% and to China by 11%. Sales in Germany, Japan and Canada were also ahead.

In the UK, sales held steady at around 10 per cent of the total — about 360 cars —and London’s Berkeley Square dealership remains one of its top five salesrooms in the world.

Müller-Ötvös said demand for its £200,000-plus cars, particularly the latest Wraith model, has never been greater.

Fellow luxury car maker Bentley Motors, owned by Germany’s Volkswagen but based in Crewe, yesterday posted a 19% rise in sales on last year to 10,120 cars. Again, the Middle East saw strong growth while the US is still the biggest market with sales up 28% to 3,140 cars.