Japanese Company Aims to Up Rolls-Royce sales in 1996

09/20/96

Reuters reports that Cornes & Co Ltd, Japan's only importer and distributor for Rolls-Royce cars, has announced that it plans to sell a total of 150 Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars during calendar year 1996. The company sold 121 cars the previous year.

According to Keith Sanders, a director of Rolls Royce Motor Cars, the company is doing well, with this year's worldwide sales 25 percent over last year's for the January to August Period. Company forecasts call for 10 percent growth in worldwide sales, matching the 10 percent growth rate the company saw in 1995 (in 1995 RR sold 1,556 cars worldwide).

The Japanese sales prices of most 1997 models remain unchanged from the previous model year, despite improvements in several areas and an increase in engine power. The price of a select few models, like the Bentley Continental, was three to four percent higher than previous costs. Cornes and Company based that increase on the performance of a weaker yen compared to the sterling.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel