Rolls-Royce targets owner-drivers
2010-01-07 08:44
Singapore - Luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce expects to increase sales threefold in Asia this year and is pinning its hopes on a new model aimed at ultra-wealthy clients keen to ditch the chauffeur and do their own driving.
The "Ghost" model, which carries an on-the-road price tag of S$998 000 ($715 000) in Singapore, has already attracted 250 orders in Asia, the company's Asia Pacific Regional Director, Colin Kelly, told Reuters on Wednesday.
The Ghost, targeting owner-drivers whereas the firm's flagship Phantom model was designed to be chauffeur-driven, is currently available only as a four-door saloon though parent BMW AG may expand the range.
"We'd all like to see an extended wheelbase version, a coupe and drophead coupe," Kelly said.
"I think all these things will be very, very popular but we have to go through the process of having this approved."
The company has said that, with the introduction of the Ghost, it hoped to sell 3 000 cars worldwide this year compared to around 1 200 in 2008. It has not announced final sales numbers for 2009.
Kelly said Asia accounts about 20% of the company's global sales volume.