The slowdown in the global automotive industry has forced super-luxury car giants like Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Volvo to focus on emerging markets like India and China where the impact is still marginal. Moreover, with rising numbers of high net worth individuals and high disposable incomes, these auto players feel demand in India and China can offset the slowdown in developed countries.
So, there has been quite a few launches in the luxury and super-luxury segments over the last month. While, Bentley marked the beginning of the festive season with the launch of Continental Flying Spur Speed, priced at Rs 2.5 crore, Volvo unveiled the Volvo XC90 R-Design, priced at Rs 58 lakh. And that?s not all. Come November and you will see the Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe, priced around Rs 3.5 crore, on the Indian roads.
?There has been a slowdown in the global automobile market and we are expecting to compensate for this with demand from emerging markets like India, China and the Middle East. China remains the largest market in Asia and we are hoping India will emerge the next biggest,? Chris Buxton, regional director (Middle East, Africa & India), Bentley Motors, said.
According to industry expert, there would be very little impact of the global turmoil on the Indian automotive industry. ?It will be long before the big financial turmoil percolates into India and if it happens, then also the luxury car segment would be the last one to be hit, as the country is witnessing a spurt in the number of billionaires,? he says.
?With the growing demand for our cars in India, we will be launching our fourth car in the Phantom family, the Phantom Coupe, around November,? Matthew J Bennett, general manager, (South & East Asia Pacific), Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, had said.
The more, the merrier it is for the beholder!