Abu Dhabi: The UAE became the third largest market worldwide for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in 2009 after the US and the UK, a senior official told Gulf News Wednesday.
Frank Tiemann, communication manager for Rolls Royce for the Middle East and Europe, said China and Saudi Arabia are the fourth and fifth largest markets.
Two dealerships in the UAE (one in Dubai and one in Abu Dhabi) are among the top five dealerships in the world, he added.
Both dealerships are also among the top three bespoke dealerships, Tiemann said during the UAE premier of the Rolls-Royce Ghost in Abu Dhabi.
High sales
Tiemann said that 1,002 Rolls-Royce cars were sold worldwide in 2009, of which 20 per cent were in the Middle East.
However, he did not reveal the number of cars sold in individual countries.
About 200 cars were sold in the Middle East in 2009, which means every fifth Rolls-Royce sold worldwide was sold in the UAE, Tiemann said.
He revealed that sales were softer during the April to May period, compared to 2008 which experienced record sales of 1,212 cars.
However, some countries recorded an increase in sales in 2009, including Qatar and Bahrain.
He said the global economic downturn did not affect the sales in 2008.
"In 2009, sales were down by 17 per cent. It was a psychological impact; our customers were not affected by the downturn but they might not be in position to think of rewarding themselves with a luxury car".
Tieman said that the negative impact of the global financial crisis is slowly disappearing, as the first two months of this year saw a 40 per cent increase in sales worldwide, compared to the same period in 2009.
- 1002 Rolls Royce cars sold in 2009 worldwide
- 20% of total sales in Middle East in 2009
- 1212 sold in 2008 worldwide
- 20 per cent of total sales in Middle East in 2009
- 40 per cent increase in worldwide sales in Jan and Feb in 2010(compared to 2009 same period)
- Dh 1.085 million to Dh 1. 4 million- price of Rolls-Royce Ghost
Ghost premiere
The Rolls-Royce Ghost, the latest model from Rolls-Royce first launched in December 2009 had its UAE premiere yesterday in Abu Dhabi. The Ghost costs between Dh1.085 million and 1.4 million according to Kadhim H.H. Al Heili, brand manager at Abu Dhabi Motors the authorised dealer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
Rolls-Royce officials said the Ghost is a vision of simplicity taking core values of Rolls-Royce and creating effortless luxury and new dynamism while remaining true to its heritage, the Ghost projects a more informal presence than the Phantom with an greater emphasis on driving.
