It’s no secret that we’re currently experiencing a slowdown due to various factors, including the impact of higher interest rates. However, 2023 proved to be a positive year overall for most high-end brands. Unfortunately, Bentley didn’t share in this success, as the British carmaker saw a decline in global sales.
In 2023, Bentley sold 13,560 vehicles, marking a significant 11% decline compared to the previous year, which had been its best year on record with 15,174 units sold. Nevertheless, 2023 still ranks as the third-best year on record for Bentley.
In contrast, rival brand Rolls-Royce achieved its highest-ever sales year in 2023, with 6,032 vehicles sold, a slight increase over the previous record of 6,021 units in 2022. Even Mercedes-Maybach recorded an impressive 19% increase in sales last year.
Bentley Sales 2023
The Americas continued to be Bentley’s largest market, with 3,848 units sold, followed by China, Hong Kong, and Macao with 3,006 units. Europe accounted for 2,376 sales, followed by Asia Pacific with 2,123 units, the UK with 1,218 deliveries, and the Middle East, India, and Africa, where 989 cars found buyers.
The Bentayga continues to be Bentley’s top-selling model, representing 44% of all the firm’s vehicles sold last year. The Continental GT and GT Convertible combined accounted for nearly a third of sales, while the Flying Spur contributed to 25% of sales.
On a more positive note for Bentley, more customers than ever chose to personalize their vehicles through its Mulliner division.
Read: Bentley Bentayga EWB Mulliner Goes Long On Luxury, Features Special Touches Throughout
Bentley takes pride in providing its customers with extensive options for personalization. In fact, the company offers a staggering 46 billion different configurations within its standard range. Surprisingly, around three-quarters of all customers chose to incorporate bespoke content from the Mulliner division. This marks a notable 43% increase over 2022 and highlights the significant demand for unique and customized vehicles
Additionally, the brand’s customers are opting for its higher revenue models now more than ever, like its Azure, S, and Speed models. In fact, they accounted for 70% of all sales in 2023, up from 30% in 2022. The new Bentayga Extended Wheelbase also proved popular, accounting for more than a third of the SUV’s total sales in its first full year on sale.
“The luxury market was not immune from the challenging market conditions seen around the world in the second half of 2023 and despite this we were able to deliver our third highest retail position in history and enter 2024 with a strong order bank,” Bentley chairman and chief executive Adrian Hallmark said. “Building on this, our quality of sales was much greater, with significant increases in our higher value derivatives, and a significant growth in demand for bespoke personalization.”
