Rolls-Royce sees record sales in Korea

Rolls-Royce, the high-end luxury carmaker owned by BMW Group, said last week that it sold 30 units last year in Korea ― its highest sales yet.

The Rolls-Royce Ghost, priced at about 400 million won ($375,000) here, accounted for 27 of the 30 cars that were sold, proving to be the bestselling model among Korean big spenders.

The wide popularity of the Ghost demonstrates the growth potential for the super-luxury segment in Korea, according to Lee Chul-seung, the head of the official importer Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Seoul.

“We are satisfied with business in Korea because we see that Rolls-Royce has become the symbol of success in one of the most entrepreneurial and technologically advanced societies in Asia,” said Rolls-Royce Asia-Pacific regional director Paul Harris.

“Demand in Korea for our cars is increasing to the extent that Korea was one of the fastest growing markets in the Asia-Pacific region last year,” he added.

In addition to the Ghost, the company has high expectations for the Wraith, the latest, sportier Rolls-Royce that was launched in Korea late last year to lure the younger wealthy crowd.

“With the Rolls-Royce brand continuing to introduce new, exciting models like the two-door Wraith, the most powerful car the company has ever built, we are already attracting a broader audience in this market,” said Lee. “The Wraith, in particular, has changed the boundaries for Rolls-Royce.”

The Wraith is said to be currently backed up on its orders worldwide.

At the global level, Rolls-Royce savored its fourth consecutive record-breaking year, selling a combined 3,630 cars across 40 countries ― an all-time high in the brand’s 110 years of history.

The Middle East and China were especially lucrative markets, with sales growth of 17 percent and 11 percent, respectively. The United States and China remained in the top positions in terms of actual sales.

Moreover, as part of the company’s policy to meet long-term and sustainable growth, it established 15 additional dealerships around the globe and has announced plans to recruit about 100 more employees for its manufacturing department.

By Kim Joo-hyun
(jhk@heraldcorp.com)