Volkswagen’s luxury brand, Bentley, considerably improved its profitability in 2005, reported Automobilwoche.
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Bentley boss Franz-Josef Paefgen told the newspaper that Bentley was one of the best performers in the Volkswagen Group, with a return on revenues of 6.5%. Bentley’s financial results are consolidated under the Volkswagen brand and are not published separately.
Bentley sold 8,627 cars in 2005, 31% up on a year earlier. This growth was mainly attributable to the new Flying Spur sedan but it is also because of on-going high demand for the Continental GT coupe.
Bentley is the only Volkswagen luxury brand that is profitable. Its strong performance is expected to continue to improve with the launch of the Azure cabriolet in the spring of 2006. Orders already taken mean that the car is sold out for this year. The open-top version of the Coninental GT, called GTC is also due on sale in the autumn.
Bentley is currently using Volkswagen’s glass plant in Dresden to ensure waiting lists do not get too long but Paefgen expects it will not need the plant beyond 2007. Then the 9,000 unit capacity at Crewe will suffice. Production of around 7,000 to 7,500 units annually is planned.
