The new Mulsanne1 follows in the footsteps of the Arnage
The Bentley brand was unable to escape the pronounced slump in the luxury segment in 2009. The brand is responding to this development with, among other things, its new flagship model: the Bentley Mulsanne. This vehicle reflects the brand’s philosophy of combining outstanding luxury with superior performance.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Having heralded the end of the Arnage era in 2008, 2009 saw Bentley showcase a new flagship model at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt: the Bentley Mulsanne. This saloon combines a generously proportioned, exclusive interior and hand-crafted luxury with the top-of-the-range performance typical of Bentley. In addition, the Continental series was extended systematically with the launch of the GTC Speed2 and the Bentley Continental Supersports2 – the fastest and most powerful Bentley of all time.
Left: Bentley Mulsanne
Right: Bentley Continental Supersports
In fiscal year 2009, the international financial and economic crisis once again brought about a significant decline in volumes in the luxury segment. The Bentley brand suffered declining sales in all markets compared with the previous year. Total deliveries to customers fell by 39.3% to 4,616 vehicles.
Unit sales for the reporting period fell by 47.9% year-on-year to 4,005 vehicles, with sales figures in all markets falling short of 2008 levels.
A total of 3,637 Bentley brand vehicles were produced in the past fiscal year; this was 52.6% fewer than in 2008. This allowed inventories to be reduced substantially.
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BENTLEY BRAND |
|
|
| |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
2009 |
2008 |
% | |||
|
Deliveries |
4,616 |
7,604 |
–39.3 | |||
|
Vehicle sales |
4,005 |
7,685 |
–47.9 | |||
|
Production |
3,637 |
7,674 |
–52.6 | |||
|
Sales revenue (€ million) |
571 |
1,084 |
–47.3 | |||
|
Operating result |
–194 |
10 |
x | |||
|
as % of sales revenue |
–34.0 |
0.9 |
|
SALES REVENUE AND EARNINGS
Sales revenue for the Bentley brand in 2009 was 47.3% below the previous year’s level at €0.6 billion. The operating result fell to €–194 million. Bentley responded to the difficult situation with a comprehensive package of measures and aligned production capacity and fixed costs with the lower unit sales. The operating return on sales fell from 0.9% in 2008 to –34.0% in 2009.
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PRODUCTION |
|
| ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Vehicles |
2009 |
2008 | ||
|
Continental Flying Spur |
1,358 |
1,813 | ||
|
Continental GT Coupé |
1,211 |
2,699 | ||
|
Continental GT Cabriolet |
722 |
2,408 | ||
|
Arnage |
147 |
277 | ||
|
Brooklands |
106 |
312 | ||
|
Azure |
93 |
165 | ||
|
|
3,637 |
7,674 |
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.bentleymotors.com
1 No binding consumption and emission data is currently available for these models.
2 Consumption and emission data can be found here.
