Rolls Royce is looking to tap into China's market, which boasts the luxury car brand's youngest clientele, with its bespoke business offerings.
Last year, Rolls-Royce inaugurated a customization center called Private Office in Shanghai to further strengthen its connection to its patrons and the global luxury market. And at the 2024 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2024), which opened on April 25, Rolls-Royce brought the first three cars produced in the Shanghai facility to the show.
Speaking in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the Beijing auto show on Monday, Chris Brownridge, CEO of the British luxury automobile maker, said the creativity of Rolls-Royce's young clients in China and their significant engagement with the brand have driven the automaker to expand its bespoke business in the country.
"China and Beijing are particularly important places for Rolls-Royce. In this region, our clients are the youngest of all of our clients. They're very creative and their engagement with Rolls-Royce, particularly with our bespoke program where we create individual automobiles for our clients, their engagement is significant. So, to be back here is absolutely wonderful and I'm really enjoying my time here," he said.
"Rolls-Royce is established across the world in every region and so of course our business is spread in many different areas, and China is a very important region for us. What we can see with our clients in China is that because they're so creative and quite demanding, we see increasing demand for our bespoke business. And to this end, last year we opened a private office in Shanghai," Brownridge said.
He said the large client base comprising "ultra-high-net-worth individuals" is why Rolls-Royce chose Shanghai to set up the private office.
"We chose Shanghai because China is a region which has great potential for Rolls-Royce. But also, we have a large number of clients already and our business is centered around really having strong relationships and deep understanding of our clients, so that we can produce these bespoke motor cars for them. So, having a private office in China, it made complete sense. It was the most logical thing to do. It also helps us understand our clients better. We chose Shanghai because that is a particular area where there is a huge number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals. And since we've opened that office, we've had more than 200 client engagements, so it's clearly in the right place," Brownridge said.
China is Rolls-Royce's second largest market and a key source of revenue, making up 25 percent of its total global sales, according to data from the British company.
Auto China 2024, taking place in a venue of 220,000 square meters, will see 117 new car models making their debut, a record high.
This year's show runs till May 4.
Rolls Royce looks to tap into young China market with bespoke business offerings
Chinese President Xi Jinping held a restrictive meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday at Zhongnanhai in Beijing, during which they had in-depth exchanges on strategic issues of common concern.
The world is undergoing changes unseen in a century and entering a new period of turbulence and transformation, Xi noted, adding that in the face of the ever-evolving world landscape with volatility and turmoil, China has maintained its strategic resolve.
He said that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people have overcome various difficulties and challenges, and are striving to promote high-quality development and Chinese modernization.
China is willing to work with Russia and other countries to enhance solidarity and cooperation, steer global governance in the right direction, jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, and promote world peace and common development, Xi said.
Noting that China's development is unstoppable and that no force can contain China's growth and progress, Putin said that Russia is willing to improve cooperation with China and other Global South countries to promote international fairness and justice, and to work toward a more equal and multipolar world.
The two heads of state had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis.
Xi elaborated on China's consistent position and efforts to promote the political settlement of the Ukraine issue, stressing that to deal with any major issue, it is necessary to address both the symptoms and the root causes, and to plan for the present as well as for the long term.
He said the core of the Global Security Initiative is advocating the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and the fundamental solution to the Ukraine issue is to promote the establishment of a new balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture.
Xi said China supports the convening of an international peace conference recognized by Russia and Ukraine at an appropriate time with equal participation and fair discussion of all options, so as to push for an early political settlement of the Ukraine issue, and China stands ready to continue to play a constructive role in this regard.
Putin introduced the relevant views and positions of Russia, saying that Russia appreciates China's objective, just and balanced position on the Ukraine issue and welcomes China to continue to play an important and constructive role in the political settlement of the issue. Russia is committed to resolving the Ukraine issue through political negotiations and is willing to demonstrate sincerity and maintain close communication with China in this regard, he said.
Xi said that over the years, they have had many meetings and every exchange has been candid, in-depth and fruitful.
Xi said he is ready to stay in close contact with President Putin and work together to steer the development of China-Russia relations in the right direction, guide the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era to achieve steady and lasting progress, bring more benefits to the two peoples, and contribute to world security and stability.
Putin thanked Xi for his warm hospitality, saying that he is willing to maintain close communication with Xi, implement the important consensus reached between them, and ensure the full development of the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era.
Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai
