BLIMEY, THAT’S GREAT!

British ultraluxury brand Bentley reported that its markets in the Asia Pacific region finished yet another record year in 2023. The region delivered 2,121 ultra-luxury cars, which represents a 16-percent share in Bentley Motors' total global sales of 13,560 units.

With 90 more vehicles sold in 2023 compared to the previous one, Bentley Asia Pacific raised its performance by four percent.

"As we journey ahead toward full electrification, Bentley will continue to transform with the ambition to lead as the lighthouse for a contemporary luxury lifestyle. With Mulliner, we will continue to deliver bespoke personalization possibilities to our discerning customers, and offer them highly curated specifications through our regional Mulliner Collections," said Nico Kuhlman, Bentley Motors Asia Pacific regional director.

Among the product range, the Bentayga ultra-luxury SUV maintained its lead with the introduction of the Extended Wheelbase and Azure models, which offer new levels of comfort alongside unique styling touches. With 848 units sold — a 4-percent increase — the model accounted for 40 percent of the total sales in the region last year.

Contributing to the growth is the success of the quintessential ultra-luxury grand tourer, the Continental GT. Deliveries of the model, including those of the droptop Continental GTC, reached a record 648 units last year. This equated to a 14-percent increase compared to the previous year, and contributed 31 percent to total sales.

As the world's finest ultra-luxury four-door grand tourer, the Flying Spur accounted for 29 percent of sales across the region with deliveries of 625 units.

Other drivers for the growth include customer demand for Bentley Mulliner personalization specifications, and interest in six limited Mulliner Collections models like the Bentayga Nimbus and Umbra, Continental GTC Skyline Edition, and a collaborative version with world-renowned artist Ha Tae Im.

Globally, interest in Bentley's personalization options reached unprecedented levels last year as around 75 percent of customers added bespoke content. Customers were also increasingly attracted to special variants like the Azure, S and Speed.