LONDON — Bentley has overcome what it known as “important headwinds” to extend gross sales by 31 % in 2021 to succeed in a brand new document.

The Volkswagen Group-owned ultraluxury model posted 14,659 gross sales.

For the fifth consecutive yr, the Bentayga SUV was the model’s best-selling mannequin with 5,855 gross sales, the corporate mentioned in an announcement.

Robust demand in China and North America noticed each markets obtain considerably greater gross sales than 2020 to account for nearly 60 % of total gross sales collectively.

The Americas area, together with the U.S., was Bentley’s high market with gross sales climbing 39 % to 4,212.

Gross sales in China grew 40 % to 4,033, pushed by demand for the Bentayga and Flying Spur sedan.

Europe, excluding the UK, was the model’s third-biggest area at 2,520 gross sales, up 15 % from 2020.

“We overcame important headwinds to ship a breakthrough in our gross sales efficiency,” Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark mentioned within the assertion.

Bentley is anticipated to publish document earnings for 2021 after asserting a document first-half revenue of 178 million euros ($210 million).

Bentley’s robust annual efficiency is one other instance of how automotive corporations have prioritized higher-margin manufacturers and fashions in a yr by which a scarcity of semiconductors sharply diminished their skill to fulfil buyer orders.

VW Group has been compelled to cut back manufacturing of its best-seller, the VW Golf, at its residence plant in Wolfsburg, due to a scarcity of chips whereas high-margin model corresponding to Bentley and Porsche have been largely unaffected.

Bentley’s turnaround comes after the UK-based firm was given an ultimatum to turn out to be worthwhile in two years by VW Group’s principal shareholders, the Porsche and Piech households.

Bentley’s success has been partly pushed by the rollout of a brand new vary of fashions and derivatives. The model leapfrogged rivals corresponding to Aston Martin and Rolls-Royce to launch plug-in hybrid fashions and final yr the Bentayga Hybrid accounted for one in 5 Bentayga gross sales.

Bentley mentioned it anticipated robust demand for the plug-in hybrid model of the Flying Spur, which is able to go on sale quickly.

The Continental GT coupe and convertible was the model’s second best-selling mannequin final yr after the Bentayga, with gross sales of 4,795, Bentley mentioned. The Flying Spur sedan was third with 3,935.