Autoblog

Rolls-Royce rings up best-ever sales year

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Rolls-Royce, Earnings/Financials, Luxury

The wheeled monolith above is the 2013 Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase - a rolling demonstration of the real definition of "More." For that reason we can use it as a symbol of the firm's sales, which have not only achieved 'more' for the past three years but have also broken company records. Adding to its record-setting years in 2010 and 2011, the Goodwood-based carmaker moved 3,575 units, an increase of 38 over the year before.

The US retook its crown as the greatest consumers of Rolls-Royces, snagging it back from China. Other market movers were the Middle East, where sales rose 26 percent, Mainland Europe - the same place where mass-market makers are drowning in woe and inventory - that rose by 21 percent, and the Asia Pacific region and its 18-percent rise. Rolls-Royce is probably making more money on its cars, too, with bespoke uptake reaching 95 percent on the 10-year-old Phantom line and 73 percent for the Ghost line.

With a just-refreshed lineup and one or perhaps two more models coming, the indicators for more upward sales movement are strong, even if we don't know how soon the new models will arrive. For 2012, the brand that sells more cars above $200,000 than any other proved the saying that storms can't affect you when you live above the clouds. The press release below has more to say about the record year.

Continue reading Rolls-Royce rings up best-ever sales year

Rolls-Royce rings up best-ever sales year originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford sales in China up 21% in 2012, 43% in Dec. alone

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, China, Crossover, Ford

Ford went into the Beijing Motor Show last year talking big about its "15 by 15" plan for China - introducing 15 new models to the market by 2015, doubling production capacity and its dealership network. Its stand at the show showcased four new vehicles - the EcoSport, Kuga, Edge and Explorer CUVs - along with the launch of the 1.0-liter EcoBoost in the Ford Focus (pictured) and convenience features like the Mandarin-enabled SYNC system in the new, Chinese-built Focus.

It's all paying off so far, with Ford reporting record December sales and annual sales (all sales are wholesales in China) in the world's largest auto market. Overall December sales were up 43 percent to 70,510 compared to 49,238 in the year before, with overall annual sales up by 21 percent to 626,616 compared to 519,390 in 2011.

Those numbers are a combination of Ford Motor China sales, and the sales locked up by Ford's passenger car joint venture partner, Changan, and its commercial vehicle joint venture partner, Jiangling. Passenger cars with Changan were up 31 percent for the year, to 418,500 units, including the imported Ford Edge that climbed to 426,608. The Focus ruled the roost, tallying 296,360 units sold for the year. Commercial vehicles did 200,008 units, a three-percent gain year-on-year.

For the number junkies among you, the press release below breaks it down even further.

Continue reading Ford sales in China up 21% in 2012, 43% in Dec. alone

Ford sales in China up 21% in 2012, 43% in Dec. alone originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Honda ups 2012 forecast by more than 25% on bullish CR-V, Civic sales

Jeffrey N. Ross — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 15:46:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Honda

On the verge of launching an all-new 2013 Accord, Honda has significantly upped its expected sales figures for 2012. Riding on the success of both the new Honda Civic and the 2012 Honda CR-V, the automaker says its forecast of 2012 sales have increased by more than 25 percent from the original 1.2 million units projected earlier in the year up to 1.3 million units. This all despite having to recover from natural disasters in Asia that crippled its production and inventory.

This bullish estimate can directly be attributed to strong sales of the new CR-V and Civic, two models which account for almost half of all Honda's 732,165 units through July. In fact, the CR-V is on pace to "demolish" its 2007 sales record of 219,000 units. Compared to last year, CR-V sales are up 33.9 percent, and with five months left, Honda is well on its way of not only breaking this record but also beating out the CR-Vs closest rival - and last year's top-selling crossover - the Ford Escape. As for the Civic, despite its cold critical reception, it remains Honda's best-selling model as well as the best-selling car in its class. Things should get even better for Honda with the Accord coming out this year and an emergency-refresh Civic due out next year.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Honda Fit subcompact is down 26.4 percent for the year while the company's CR-Z and Insight hybrids have combined to sell just 7,194 units all year.

Overall, Honda's sales are up 18.5 through the first seven months of 2012.

Honda ups 2012 forecast by more than 25% on bullish CR-V, Civic sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Aug 2012 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments