(January 3, 2012) CREWE,  England — Bentley bounced back to pre-recession levels of demand during 2011, with strong growth in all major markets. Globally, sales were up 37 percent to 7,003 with sales accelerating as the year progressed.

December sales were 1,059 — up 69 percent on the same month in 2010 — the best month since Bentley’s pre-recession record of 2007 and the second best month ever.

The U.S. continues to be Bentley’s number one market with 2,021 cars sold in 2011, an increase of 32 percent. For the first time ever, however, China took second spot with sales for the region virtually doubling to 1,839 and surpassing the previous year’s record before the end of July. This achievement is even more remarkable considering Bentley has been present in Mainland China for less than ten years.

Other regions have also performed very well. Continental European sales rebounded to 1,187 (an increase of 53 percent) led by strong demand in Germany where sales have increased by a remarkable 88 percent. The UK proved to be extremely challenging over the past months, but still saw an increase of over five per cent with 1,031 cars sold.  Indeed, all major markets are up including the Middle East despite the political instability that has beset certain markets.

“It has been a tremendously good year for Bentley. The dramatic sales growth reflects a global strength to the Brand and a recognition of the quality, craftsmanship and engineering excellence of our cars," said Wolfgang Dürheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive.

"It is also testament to the work of the entire Bentley Team whose passion and daily commitment has delivered this outstanding result. It has been particularly pleasing to see renewed interest in Bentley in established as well as and new and emerging markets, all of which is contributing to a positive financial result for 2011.

“We want that success to continue and, with a new Continental V8 set to attract new customers in 2012, have ambitious but realistic plans which reflect global economic conditions as much as our new product line up.”

The strong performance was the result of strong demand across the range, with the new Continental GT proving the most popular Bentley with 2,404 GTs delivered — over a third of Bentley’s total sales volume.