VW's Bentley posts 2014 record sales on China rebound

[BERLIN] Bentley Motors said on Wednesday sales of its ultra-luxury cars rose to another record last year, powered by rebounding demand in China.

The Volkswagen-owned British brand delivered 11,020 saloons, coupes and convertibles in 2014, 9 per cent more than the previous record of 10,120 cars set in 2013, Bentley said.

Sales in China, Bentley's No 2 market, jumped 22 per cent to 2,670 cars, after shrinking 2.8 per cent a year earlier, the Crewe, England-based manufacturer said.

Bentley may be able "to maintain this significant period of success" as it will expand into luxury sport-utility vehicles in 2016, Chief Executive Wolfgang Duerheimer said in a statement.

The 96 year-old brand is diversifying its model line-up and plans to decide on a fifth model line by the autumn, the CEO told Reuters last October.

Sales in the Americas, Bentley's biggest market, edged up 1.5 per cent to 3,186 cars while European deliveries gained 4 per cent to 1,539 models.

REUTERS