Strong sales at West Sussex-based Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

By Nicky Godding

9 January 2024

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Credit: Rolls Royce

West Sussex-based Rolls-Royce Motor Cars reported a highly successful 2023, with strong business performance and bespoke commissions at record levels.

The ongoing success and growth of the marque’s bespoke capabilities – supported by the continuing expansion of its international Private Office network – resulted in more and higher value bespoke commissions than ever before. Global sales of 6,032 motor cars were in line with internal expectations and Rolls-Royce’s status as an international luxury house, rather than a volume-driven manufacturer. All Rolls-Royce motor cars are hand-built at the marque’s home in Goodwood, UK and each one has elements of bespoke.

Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive Officer at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said: "2023 was another extraordinary year for Rolls-Royce, with strong sales performances in all regions and across the full product portfolio. It’s especially encouraging to see the enormous interest in and demand for Spectre, supporting the decision to adopt a bold, ‘all-electric’ strategy for future model development and production. The record level of Bespoke commissions, both by volume and value, also underlines our position within the luxury sector, offering our clients opportunities for self-expression and personalisation they cannot find anywhere else.

“As incoming CEO, I’m in the extremely fortunate position of taking over responsibility for a business in robust good health, with strong foundations and a clear strategy for growth and development, formidable technical capabilities and a focused, dedicated team. I’m looking forward to working with the entire Rolls-Royce team to maintain this momentum and take this great company forward with confidence and conviction.”

While the hugely popular Wraith and Dawn models ceased production as planned in 2023, the year was most notable for the start of production and sales of Rolls-Royce Spectre, with the first client deliveries taking place in the autumn. The first all-electric Rolls-Royce in history has attracted enormous interest, particularly among younger clients; this demand has translated into orders extending into 2025, laying a firm foundation for the marque’s bold, all-electric future.

During 2023, the company announced substantial new investment in its Goodwood manufacturing facility to enhance capacity and capabilities for bespoke and to support the growth of Coachbuild.e

By Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe.

After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts.

She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.