Indian Car Enthusiasts up for a Bentley Convertible Treat

The Asian auto market is on an upswing and though the Detroit giants continue are trying their best to maintain their prestige, even they would have to ultimately announce major plans for foreign markets, primarily Asian ones, and if anyone still argues on America being the biggest playfield for carmakers let me ask them what are the Azures and the Continental GTC from Bentley doing in India.

bentley azure

The answer is that even the high-end saloon producing carmakers acknowledge the potential this market has. Bentley expects to sell its 25 CBUs (completely built unit) in India by the last quarter of 2008. The English car makers has recently launched two new convertible models, Azure and Continental GTC priced at Rs 3.80 crore and Rs 2.10 crore respectively.

The company allocates a specific number of cars to be sold in a particular country. Since it first hit the Indian roads in 2003, it has sold more than 40 units in the super-luxury segment. It has been revealed that the company, with its only one manufacturing plant in England, has a 6-7 per cent car-market potential in South Asia for its brand.

Bentley Motors Regional Sales Manager Ian Hession however denied that high duty and tax structure was a hurdle for the luxury car's sales. Both the cars, fitted with electro-hydraulically operated soft-top roof, have elite interior with standard craftsmanship, utilizing natural wood veneers and leather hides of finest quality.

Mr. Hession disclosed:

We hope to sell about 9,000 cars this year but do not have plans to expand our production capacity as we have to ensure that the car remains exclusive...we might revise allocation for countries.

Additionally, the company plans to set up another showroom in Mumbai by the end of 2009.

bentley continental gtc

[Courtesy: Economictimes]