Bentley looks to cross 100 units a year mark in India by 2017

New Delhi: Bullish on the Indian market, ultra luxury carmaker Bentley expects its sales in the country to cross 100 units a year mark by 2017.

The company, which sells models such as luxury sedans Continental GT and Flying Spur and the latest SUV Bentayga, which are priced Rs 3.55 crore onwards, has been growing at 15 per cent in the past four years.

Bentley's dealer in India, Exclusive Motors, is confident that it will continue with the same sales momentum this year too.

"We have been growing at 15 per cent every year and our total sales this year will be in high double digits and we hope to cross the three digits mark in 2017," Exclusive Motors Managing Director Satya Bagla told PTI.

He, however, did not share the exact sales in India, citing company policy.

When asked if the negative sentiments around the automotive industry has had an impact on sales in India, he replied in the negative, saying the problem was more to do with meeting demand as Bentley cars always had limited production.

"It is about finding the right people to sell to. Our main problem today is meeting demand," Bagla said, adding that already the latest SUV Bentayga, priced at Rs 3.85 crore (ex-showroom Delhi) onwards, has confirmed bookings in "three digits".

This year, Bentley is producing about 2,600-2,700 units of the Bentayga globally. It is targeting 3,000 units a year going forward.

Last year, Bentley had produced a total of 10,001 units of its luxury cars for the global markets and this year it will be increased by 15 percent.

The company manufactures its cars at Crewe in the UK from where the units are shipped to the global markets.

"There is competition for allocation of cars among the 200 dealers globally in 55 markets," he added.

Bagla said India is growing aggressively in the luxury automobile space and in order to tap the opportunity, Bentley is expanding presence in the country. A new showroom with service facility is being set up at Hyderabad, which will be opened in about two months.

This will add to the company's existing outlets in Delhi and Mumbai.