Bentley Says Sales In China Exceed US

Beijing: Bentley Motors Ltd, the Volkswagen AG super-luxury brand, said China became its biggest market during the first quarter after sales in the country surpassed deliveries in the US for the first time.

The company sold 547 units in China in the first quarter and plans to increase deliveries in the country by at least 30 per cent this year, said Chong Got, executive director of Bentley China. Crewe, England-based Bentley, which opened its 19th Chinese showroom yesterday, plans to add four more in the country this year and at least three more in 2013, he said.

The Bentley brand, which sold 1,664 vehicles in China last year, is competing with Bayerische Motoren Werke AG’s Rolls-Royce, Ferrari SpA and Aston Martin Holdings UK Ltd to win customers in China. While growth in demand for luxury cars in China outpaces the total market, BMW, Daimler AG and Audi AG — the world’s three biggest premium automakers — are dangling steeper discounts in the world’s most populous nation as a slowing economy and more brands drive up competition.

Bentley plans to add showrooms in Tangshan, Changsha, Dalian and Ordos this year, Bloomberg quoted Chong.

Aston Martin, the UK luxury sports-car maker, intends to add at least four new dealers in China this year, the company has said.