India emerges Rolls Royce's 3rd-largest mkt in APAC

British super luxury carmaker Rolls Royce today said India has become its third-largest market in the Asia Pacific region, after China and Japan, for its vehicles which are priced up to Rs 4.25 crore.

The company, which sold less than 10 units in the Indian market last year, expects to sell up to 70 units in 2010 cashing in on a rapidly growing economy and spendings by an ever expanding affluent class.

"We are running at full capacity and lot of cars are going into the Asia Pacific region, including India. It is the hottest market. India is one of the top three markets in Asia Pacific," Rolls Royce Motor Cars Asia Pacific Manager (Corporate Communications) Hal Serudin told reporters here.

He said the China tops the list in the region with eight dealerships that sell "hundreds" of cars of the brand. Japan follows with two dealerships.

"We are expecting to sell 60-70 units for the 2010 calender year in India. Last year, we sold less than 10 units due to recession," Serudin said.

The company is currently present in India with two dealerships in Delhi and Mumbai.

The company at present sells a range of five cars from the stable of two models -- Phantom priced between Rs 3.75 crore and Rs 4.25 crore, and Ghost priced up to Rs 2.8 crore.

Of the total expected sales this year, Rolls Royce is expecting Ghost to contribute with over 50 units.

Globally, the company has sold 2,007 units during January-October period this year compared to 531 units in the same period last year. It has sold 1,002 units in 2009.

Rolls Royce's dealer for the National Capital Yadur Kapur said there has been a long order list for the Ghost going up to next year, while the Phantom has been sold out till April.

The UK-based company's global manufacturing facility is at Goodwood in Britain, where cars are hand-built by engineers.