Rolls-Royce breaks sales record in 2011, Bentley up 37 per cent

Rolls-Royce sold 3538 cars for the year around the world, which is the company's highest yearly sales figure in its 107-year history. It was up 31 per cent on 2010's sales effort of 2711 cars. The previous record for Rolls-Royce was set in 1978, when the company sold 3347 units.

The Asia-Pacific region saw the most sales (up 47 per cent from 2010), with China the key region, followed by the North America (up 17 per cent) and in particular the US, and then the Middle East (up 23 per cent).

Rolls-Royce sales in Australia fell 20 per cent in 2011, down from 25 units to 20 compared with 2010.

Rolls-Royce's main rival Bentley has also posted positive 2011 sales figures. Bentley sold 7003 cars globally, up 37 per cent from 2010 (5112 units).

December sales alone (1059) for the Volkswagen-owned marque in 2011 were the second-highest in the company's 93-year history.

Bentley's number one market in 2011 was the US, where 2021 examples went to new homes, while the Chinese market reported 1839 sales, taking for second spot. Sales in China grew by almost 100 per cent compared with 2010.

Bentley sales increased 5.2 per cent in Australia in 2011, up from 58 cars in 2010 to 61 last year.