Global ultra-luxury car maker, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, is planning to open two more dealerships in India by March 2012, according to Herfried Hasenoehrl, head (business development -- India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh).
“We are optimistic about the Indian market and want to be close to our customers. The potential is there for two more (dealerships). Negotiations are on and the first one will come up in north and the other either in central or south India,” Hasenoehrl told mediapersons here on Wednesday.
Rolls-Royce, which came back to India in 2005, has a dealership each in Mumbai and New Delhi. The company launched its third dealership - Kun Motoren Private Limited -- in Hyderabad on Wednesday. In the Asia-Pacific region, the company has 10 dealerships in China and two in Japan.
Stating that Rolls-Royce is not in the volume game, Hasenoehrl said of the 3,6000 cars produced by the company in Britain between 1907 and 1947, 1,000 units were exported to India. Over 200 Rolls-Royce cars are now plying on the Indian roads. “All the three regions – north, central and south – contribute equally to our sales, with Phantom being the best seller, followed by Ghost,” he said.
Hasenoehrl said Asia-Pacific accounted for 30 per cent of Rolls-Royce’s global sales with China leading the league, followed by Japan and India. "In 2010, the company sold 2,711 cars globally. We expect to surpass those numbers this year," he added.
Rolls-Royce on Wednesday unveiled its Ghost Extended Wheelbase in the Andhra Pradesh market. The sixth new Rolls-Royce model, the car boasts an increase of 170-mm length, sunroof and hand-built wood packages made out of Malabar wood.
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Local pricing of Ghost Extended Wheelbase starts from Rs 3.05 crore, including import taxes.
Work starts on JV project
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Rolls-Royce on Wednesday commenced construction of a new manufacturing facility in Bangalore. The facility is owned by the International Aerospace Manufacturing Pvt Ltd (IAMPL), an equal joint venture between HAL and Rolls-Royce. The joint venture was formed in 2010.
The 7,200 square metre production facility will produce components for the Trent family of civil aero engines, as well as for a number of marine and energy gas turbines. Located near the HAL airport, the facility will start production in 2012. IAMPL is expected to have the latest Rolls-Royce manufacturing techniques and "will create jobs for highly-skilled technicians and engineers in India," said a Rolls-Royce spokesperson.