Rolls-Royce has announced its annual sales record for 2019, seeing tremendous growth and setting a historic record for the company. Rolls-Royce delivered a total of 5,152 vehicles in 2019, the highest in the 116-year history. Sales grew across all regions during the year, driven by strong customer demand for all Rolls‑Royce models. Sales reflect the growth of 25% over the previous year, 2018, where the company sold 4,107 vehicles.
Among the popular demand is the Cullinan, the brand’s newest vehicle added to its lineup. In its first full year of availability, the Cullinan exceeded even the highest expectations raised by its successful launch. In addition, the Phantom, Wraith, Dawn, and Ghost (which is in its final year of production) also contributed strong sales. Rolls-Royce says the Black Badge line continues to drive particularly younger clients to the brand.
As a result of a successful year, Rolls-Royce has made significant investments in manufacturing plants at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood. Rolls-Royce has announced it will create 50 new jobs to meet the expanded global demand. In addition to offering a record number of internship recruits in 2019.
2019 marked the end of Ghost production after 11 years of uninterrupted commercial and critical success. Since its launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009, Ghost has established itself as an undisputed modern classic. The most popular Rolls-Royce model of the Goodwood era, Ghost attracted a new audience of younger, often self-made, entrepreneurial customers to the Rolls-Royce brand.
Ghost’s successor is due for launch in mid-2020 after five years in development. With market availability from the fourth quarter, the successor will elevate the Ghost name, and the company itself, to new heights of excellence and ambition in design, engineering, materials and driving dynamics.
Commenting on the results, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, 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.”
In closing, Mr Müller-Ötvös said, “There is no other company like Rolls-Royce Motor Cars: we are all conscious of what a privilege it is to design, build and deliver the best car in the world for our customers. PersonalIy, I continue to feel honoured and humbled to have led this great company for the past decade.”