Rolls-Royce flattered by rising sales, imitations

The Rolls-Royce Ghost was unveiled in Hong Kong last Thursday, selling at a little over half a million US dollars -- and the order books have already filled up.

In an article by Channel News Asia, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Regional Director Colin Kelly said: "People are starting to see new interest in luxury goods and our dealers are telling us that the enquiries [for the Ghost] are rising." 

With such optimistic sales in this part of the world, it's no wonder the luxury car company is moving in on the Chinese market with full force, opening new dealerships in Ningbo, Hangzhou and Shenzhen. 

Business Week reported last year that 106 Rolls-Royce vehicles were sold in China in 2007, with 26 of those sold to Hong Kong buyers.

"China accounts for 55 to 60 percent of Asia Pacific sales," Kelly said, and it is now the second largest market for Rolls-Royce after the US.

But where there's a luxury product sold in China, there'll be a knock-off version not far behind. Rolls-Royce is being kept on its toes by the mainland-made version of last year's hottest RR model, the Phantom.

Geely is one of China's largest vehicle manufacturers and the company previewed its GE model, which stands for "Geely Excellence," at the Shanghai Auto Show last April, aiming to make it available in three years' time. The GE is like an abbreviated version of the Phantom, but it does have one key feature that the Phantom doesn't: the passenger section has just one seat, dubbed "the throne".