Rolls-Royce sees Phl as another important market in Asia

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Rolls-Royce Motors Corp., a world famous luxury-car maker, is looking at the Philippine market to add to Asia's already 50 percent share in the global market for the luxury car brand, the company said today.

In a press briefing at Peninsula Hotel in Metro Manila's Makati City, Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos said that the Philippines is an important market with enough billionaires to sustain company growth.

"It was an excellent decision to enter the Philippines. The economy is up and I was blown away with many constructions going on in Manila, the moment I arrived. There is clear indication that business will grow here in the next few years," he said.

Muller-Otvos, who was off to Tokyo after the Manila briefing, inaugurated Wednesday the first and only Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Manila showroom at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

The showroom is an interim space to house Rolls-Royce units until a bigger showroom is opened in 2014. In display now is the Phantom Series II Extended Wheelbase.

"The arrival of Rolls-Royce in the Philippines signifies our belief in this country's economy and demonstrates the desire from our discerning customers in this region for the ultimate in super- luxury," said Muller-Otvos.

In Asia, China is the single biggest market for Rolls-Royce cars followed by Japan and those with almost similar volumes  Singapore, India and China's Hong Kong.

China is more than 50 percent of the Roll-Royce market while the United States is about 30 percent.