Bentley First-Quarter Sales Soar 47%

Volkswagen AG's Bentley Motors unit boosted sales 47% to nearly 1,800 vehicles worldwide in the first quarter of this year compared with 1,200 units in the same period of 2011.

China became the ultra-luxury British brand's largest national market. Demand there surged 85% to 580 cars, surpassing the U.S., where sales rose 36% to 470 vehicles. Volume rose in Europe (+34% to 200 cars) and the Middle East (+83% to 170 units) but was flat at 230 units in the U.K.