Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce is preparing to launch the Specter, its first all-electric car. (File)
London:
Britain’s Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said on Monday that it has achieved record annual sales of vehicles that symbolize its luxury status, as the broader sector is facing a global catastrophe including semiconductor deficiencies.
The German-owned luxury carmaker said sales jumped nearly 50% to 5,586 units with a record set in most regions including the Americas, Asia-Pacific and China, as well as in many countries around the world.
Demand is provided by the new “Ghost” coupe and the 2.6-ton Cullinan SUV, valued at 350,000 euros.
“The year 2021 is an extraordinary year for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars,” Rolls-Royce Motor Cars CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos said in the statement.
“We have delivered more vehicles than at any point in the brand’s 117-year history with unprecedented demand for all products in every global market,” he said.
Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce is preparing to launch the Specter, its first all-electric car.
Founded in the early 20th century, the iconic British brand was acquired by the German automotive giant BMW in 1998.
Monday’s sales figures contrasted sharply with industry-wide data, which showed last week that UK car production had in fact stalled last year.
According to the British Association of Motor Manufacturers & Traders, 1.65 million vehicles will be produced in 2021.
That’s up just 1% from 2020 – but nearly 29% below the market’s pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
The pandemic broke out in early 2020 and initially led to a drop in demand. While buyers have returned, a worldwide shortage of computer chips, which are key components in all types of vehicles, has caused production to resume.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from an aggregated feed.)
