40% of global sales in H1 2022 came from the SUV

Bentley Motors has announced encouraging financial results for the first six months of 2022 despite continued global economic uncertainty. 

Out of all the models in the portfolio, the best-seller was actually the Bentayga luxury SUV which claimed 40 per cent of total sales, followed by the latest Flying Spur sedan which accounted for 27 per cent, and the Continental GT Grand Tourer which recorded 33 per cent. 

Bentley sales were up 33 per cent in Europe and 44 per cent in the United Kingdom year-to-date, helped by the introduction of the Continental GT Speed. The Americas remained the company’s strongest market, while China was impacted by extended Covid-19 lockdowns. 

Globally, year-to-date sales increased 3 per cent to 7,398 extraordinary cars, up from 7,199 during the same period in 2021.

While the outlook for the second half of the year remains challenging, the luxury British marque posted operating profits of €398 million, up 124 per cent on the same period last year. The half-yearly figures compare favourably to €389 million for the whole of 2021, the company’s previous record year.

Turnover increased from €1.324 billion during the first half of 2021 to €1.707 billion, while revenue per car climbed from €186,000, to €213,000, largely due to increased levels of personalisation. 

No luxury brand now sells more cars over €200,000 or €250,000 than Bentley. Return on sales also reached a record 23.3 per cent during the first six months of 2022, up from 13.4 per cent the previous year.

The latest figures support Bentley’s forward-looking Beyond100 strategy, as the British brand reinvents its entire product range to embrace an electrified future, achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. 

This includes a €3 billion ten-year investment programme in future products and at the Pyms Lane factory in Crewe, where all Bentley models are built.