China's nouveau riche pop out for Rolls

Rolls-Royce’s chief executive said today that China was the British carmaker’s fastest-growing market this year, with sales there up by more than 50%.

Ian Robertson also announced the company would add three dealerships in China next year, expanding the total to seven.

Robertson made his comments at a delivery ceremony for Hong Kong’s Peninsula hotel, which ordered 14 new Phantoms – the world’s largest such order.

Rolls-Royce said last month that China had become its number three market after the US and Britain, and that it planned to add 200 employees to meet demand for the Phantom in China.

Chinese consumers have shown growing interest in luxury goods as its economic boom creates a wealthy elite.