Having already beaten its annual profit record by July, Bentley also sold more cars last year than ever before.
Bentley crossed the 15,000-sales threshold for the first time in 2022, positioning the luxury marque to shatter its previous full-year profit record when figures are revealed later this quarter.
As the British company had already beaten its previous full-year profit high of €389 million (AUD$606m) by July, the addition of this new volume record is sure to push that figure to even greater heights.
In total, Bentley made 15,174 sales in 2022, a 4 per cent improvement compared with the previous record of 14,659 set in 2021. This was driven by the addition of new models and increased demand for both the Mulliner personalisation programme and hybridised models, Bentley said in a statement.
The Bentley Bentayga SUV was the brand’s best-seller, accounting for 42 per cent of its total sales – around 6370 cars, a record volume for the model. The Bentayga has historically been the brand’s best-seller, with the uplift in volume likely to have been provided by the addition of an extended-wheelbase variant late last year.
It was followed by the Continental GT and Continental GT Convertible, combining for 30 per cent of Bentley’s sales volume (roughly 4550 cars). Of the two models’ permutations it was the range-topping, performance-focused GT Speed that accounted for the greatest volume, with 31 per cent of sales (around 1410 cars).
Bentley’s only other model, the Flying Spur sedan, accounted for the remaining 28 per cent of cars delivered. Globally, the plug-in hybrid variant comprised 30 per cent of sales.
Bentley recorded sales growth in all regions except China, Hong Kong and Macau, mirroring the experience of other luxury marques. Rolls-Royce, for example, recorded a single-digit shortfall in China alone – something waved off by CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös as “nothing to be worried about”.
The Americas remained Bentley’s largest region, with 4221 sales – an improvement of nine compared with 2021 and 28 per cent of this year’s total volume.
Despite a 9 per cent (378-car) dip, China remained Bentley’s second-largest market, with 3655 sales – a 24 per cent share. Europe was third, with 2809 sales: 19 per cent of the total, and an 11 per cent (289-unit) growth compared with 2021. They were followed by Asia Pacific (2031), the UK (1490) and the Middle East, Africa and India (968).
Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark said: “In what was another year of unpredictability, the business overcame significant headwinds and demonstrated great resilience to deliver the third consecutive record-sales year.
“The reaction to the market introduction of our hybrid models, [the] Flying Spur joining [the] Bentayga last year, demonstrates the path the luxury sector is heading, and we’re positioned firmly at the forefront.
“These numbers are validation that we not only lead the sector in sales and market share but also investment in electric technologies and commitment to being net-carbon-neutral in 2030.”