Rolls-Royce delivers best ever annual sales record

A total of 5,152 cars were delivered to customers in over 50 countries around the world, an increase of 25% on the previous high set in 2018.

All of Rolls-Royce’s cars are hand-built at its manufacturing site in Goodwood, West Sussex.

The company reported significant sales growth in all of its key global markets. North America retained top status (around a third of global sales) followed by China and Europe (including UK). Individual countries that achieved strong sales results included Russia, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Qatar and Korea.

In 2019, Rolls-Royce were sold in more than 50 countries worldwide through a global network of 135 dealerships.

Commenting on the results, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce, said: “This performance is of an altogether different magnitude to any previous year’s sales success. While we celebrate these remarkable results we are conscious of our key promise to our customers, to keep our brand rare and exclusive. We are pleased and proud to have delivered growth of 25% in 2019. Worldwide demand last year for our Cullinan SUV has driven this success and is expected to stabilise in 2020. It is a ringing testament to the quality and integrity of our products, the faith and passion of our customers and, above all, the skill, dedication and determination of our exceptional team at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood and around the world and our dedicated global dealer network.”

Phantom retains its place as the company’s pinnacle product, with Dawn and Wraith continuing to dominate their respective sectors; strong demand was experienced for all three models during the year.

Cullinan, the brand’s new SUV, has the largest advance order book and fastest post‑launch sales growth of any Rolls-Royce model in history.

Factory insight

With more than 2,000 employees, Rolls-Royce’s workforce at the company’s head office and manufacturing plant at Goodwood, West Sussex is now at its largest since opening in 2003. During 2019, 50 new jobs were created to meet expanded global demand.

This year’s intake of 26 new entrants on the company’s successful apprenticeship programme included the first-ever Sir Ralph Robins Degree Apprenticeship candidates. Named after the ex-CEO of Rolls‑Royce, Sir Ralph has served as a non-executive director of Rolls-Royce since its inception in 2003.

Since the launch of the apprenticeship programme in 2006, almost 200 participants have completed a combination of hands-on practical training alongside skilled Associates and vocational training at local colleges. A number of these remarkable men and women have gone on to hold important technical and supervisory roles within the company.

The year saw significant new investment in the manufacturing plant at Goodwood, reaffirming both the company’s commitment to its UK operations and its buoyant outlook for the years ahead.

Projects included further refinements to the manufacturing facilities, equipment and processes, to maximise efficiency and ensure the highest levels of quality as demanded by Rolls-Royce customers. A new two-storey development, due for completion in the first quarter of 2020, will add more than 1,000 square metres to the ground floor Assembly Hall, and create additional first-floor office space.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com