China confirmed as Bentley’s largest global market

The company's results for the first three months of 2012 show a 46.6% increase in deliveries to 1,759. And with three weeks to go to the Beijing motor show, the key trend emerging from the results is confirmation that China is now Bentley's largest market. Sales in the China region increased by 84.9% with 578 cars delivered to customers. However, sales in the US, which previously claimed the top spot, also remain strong – up 35.6% with 468 deliveries in the region. The company said that while China was in pole position for now, a series of new product launches including the new Continental V8 range, sets the stage for a head to head between these two key markets for the rest of the year. In Europe sales were up 34.4% with 207 deliveries to customers, and sales in Middle East were up 82.6% with 168 cars delivered as the region moves on from the instability of 2011. Sales in the UK remained static with 233 deliveries to customers reflecting, said Bentley, the economic conditions affecting the wider UK automotive sector. Chief executive Wolfgang Duerheimer said that he welcomed China to its new role as Bentley's largest market. "Bentley's customers in China, as those elsewhere, value our emphasis on the finest craftsmanship and automotive engineering. They know that buying a Bentley is an unrivalled combination of luxury and performance." "With the unveiling of our SUV concept EXP 9 F we have had a phenomenal start to 2012 and expect to see continued growth over the rest of the year as the Continental V8 hits the global market". Bentley's Crewe factory was visited by deputy PM Nick Clegg earlier this week, who went to the site to see how awards from the government's Regional Growth Fund were being spent.