Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is counting on its sporty Wraith model to boost sales in Russia, even as lawmakers debate raising a high-end car tax. The ultra-luxury carmaker, which sells 100 cars a year in Russia, is looking to raise sales again after doubling the number of cars sold in 2009 with the introduction of the Ghost. Rolls-Royce is trying to gain a deeper foothold in the former communist country with a dealership in Russia’s second-largest city after opening two in Moscow. Demand should outweigh an effort by lawmakers to raise the tax for cars costing more than 5 million rubles (USD154,700), Rolls-Royces in the country start at 13.9 million rubles.
Russian lawmakers gave preliminary approval to a tax increase for luxury cars on May 21 in the first of three readings. The tax rate should be at least doubled after Jan. 1. Rolls-Royce’s management is not satisfied with sales on the European markets except in the UK, Germany and Switzerland. The company quit its business in France, while Spain is no longer a big market for Rolls-Royce due to the recession, he said.
The company launched the Wraith at the Geneva Motor Show in March this year and it arrives in Malaysia next week with orders already in hand.
