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Rolls Royce rolls out big plans for India, China
Hong Kong, Dec 15 (UNI)

China and India are expected to form the thrust of super-luxury car marque Rolls-Royce’s expansion plans in the next few years, chairman and chief executive Ian Robertson has revealed. 
Robertson said China had become the company’s third-largest market in the past year and India was likely to close the gap soon.
 He said China’s four successful dealerships would be complemented with three more in the new year, while India -- which recently witnessed a return of the brand after a 50-year absence -- would see another outlet open in 2007.
 ‘‘Growth in Greater China is unique, it’s very special,’’ said Robertson, in Hong Kong for the unveiling of a 14-strong fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantoms that will ferry guests of the famous Peninsula Hotel around the city.
 ‘‘We’ve seen 60 per cent growth there this year -- it has overtaken Japan as our biggest Asian market,’’ he added.
 ‘‘Usually 5 per cent either way means the difference between a great year and a not so great year in other markets; that gives you some indication of how big China has become.’’
 For Rolls-Royce, Greater China encompasses Hong Kong, which in the 1990s laid claim to owning the highest per-capita number of the luxury cars.
 Robertson said that title was likely to be held now by Los Angeles, which accounted for a third of all cars sold in the US, still Rolls-Royce’s biggest market, ahead of Britain.
 While, Hong Kong remains an important sales point, the company’s three other Chinese dealerships in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing are propelling the country’s sales.