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London (AFP) – The cost-of-living crisis is not affecting luxury cars: British manufacturer Rolls-Royce recorded the highest annual turnover in its 118-year history in 2022, with a total of 6,021 units sold.
This figure represents an 8% increase over 2021, with deliveries “to customers in around 50 countries,” the brand, which belongs to German group BMW, said in a statement on Monday.
The data released by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, whose sales are dominated by the US, China and Europe, contrasts with the rest of the auto market, which is struggling to recover from the pandemic and suffers from a global shortage of semiconductors.
Thus, UK new car sales fell in 2022 to their lowest level in 30 years, despite the rebound recorded at the end of the year, as reported by the SMMT trade association last Thursday.
But like other luxury brands like Bentley and Bugatti, Rolls-Royce had already enjoyed a record-breaking year in 2021.
In another example of the high-end car’s brash health, Lamborghini announced in August that it had already pre-sold its entire production run through early 2024.
Rolls-Royce, founded in the early 20th century and bought by BMW in 1998, is also preparing the launch of the Spectre, its first all-electric vehicle, due this year, whose pre-orders have “exceeded expectations,” according to to the brand.
The first deliveries are expected in the fourth quarter of 2023. Rolls-Royce has set a deadline of 2030 to produce only electric vehicles.
© 2023 AFP
