Rolls-Royce has announced that its 2015 sales were the second-highest ever recorded in its 112-year history. The company has delivered a total of 3,785 units of their hand-built motor cars worldwide last year.
Record sales were reported in Asia-Pacific (up 13%), the Middle East (up 4%) and North America (up 6%). Individual markets that recorded record results included Korea (up 73%), Japan (up 7%), Qatar (up 21%), Russia (up 1%), UK (up 2%) and USA (up 7%). Emerging markets such as Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Kazakhstan all showed promising growth. In China, significant headwinds impacted negatively on the entire luxury sector and Rolls‑Royce was not immune to these developments. The region reported sales down 54% compared to 2014.
The overall sales were driven by the success of Wraith and Ghost family motor cars, whilst Phantom remains the company’s pinnacle product globally, reaffirming its status as the world’s most desirable super-luxury good. In 2015, Rolls-Royce once again sold more cars in the +€200,000 net segment than any other manufacturer, maintaining a position it has held unchallenged over the last decade.
As part of the marque’s commitment to long-term sustainable growth, the company announced 5 new dealerships during 2015. This brings the global dealership network to 130, with further expansion planned for 2016. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Abu Dhabi was the best-selling Rolls-Royce dealership for the third consecutive year.
In September last year, Roll-Royce has unveiled the new Rolls-Royce Dawn drophead coupé that stunned the market, breaking all previous records for pre-orders whilst attracting a more social, younger generation of successful people to the marque. First customer deliveries for the Rolls-Royce Dawn will take place in the second quarter of 2016.
In the same month, the company completed the first phase of a major investment in the future of the brand with the completion of its new Technology and Logistics Centre (TLC) at Bognor Regis. The purpose-built 30,000m2 facility formally opened for business on 4 January 2016.
Throughout 2015, significant building and expansion work also continued at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, where the company is investing heavily in a new single-line manufacturing system that will drive the marque’s long-term product strategy.
Record numbers of customers tasked the marque’s designers and craftspeople with creating highly Bespoke expressions of their tastes and lifestyles. Nearly every Phantom, Ghost and Wraith that left the Home of Rolls-Royce in 2015 contained specially commissioned Bespoke design elements.
Rolls‑Royce further cemented its position as the world’s pre-eminent creator of truly individual motor cars through its Bespoke Collections introduced last year – including Wraith Inspired by Film, Fashion & Music, and Phantom Nighthawk and Limelight – and unique creations such as Phantom Serenity.
Sustained demand across the globe and a commitment to investing in future British manufacturing talent led to the creation of 100 highly-skilled permanent jobs in 2015. The company now employs 1,600 people at the Home of Rolls-Royce, a remarkable increase on the 350 that worked to create the first Phantom in 2003.
British Prime Minister, David Cameron, during a visit to the Home of Rolls-Royce in February 2015 declared Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to be “a great British manufacturing success story”. The marque’s globally renowned Apprenticeship Programme was also praised by the Prime Minister who congratulated Rolls-Royce on its sustained commitment to developing young people. 2015 saw a record intake of Apprentices with recruitment levels set to remain at record levels in 2016, the 10th Anniversary of the Apprenticeship Programme.
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO, said, “2015 was a year of tremendous challenge for the entire luxury industry. I am very proud of our success which was achieved against a backdrop of considerable global uncertainty. We have proven that our long-term strategy of globally balanced, sustainable and profitable growth is delivering and we have maintained our position as the world’s leading luxury manufacturer. I am quietly confident of a strong year in 2016.”
