Skip advert
Advertisement

Who's feeling the squeeze?

How five of the leading premium car-makers are holding up

Porsche Cayman

FerrariProduction levels are similar to last year and the order book for the new California is claimed to run to 2011. ‘Ferrari occupies a much smaller, exclusive sector of the market catering to the really wealthy who are carrying on buying what they want, recession or no recession,’ said chief executive Amedeo Felisa, although he admitted order intake is being watched closely.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Rolls-Royce  No production cutbacks planned and chief executive Tom Purves has insisted sales will top 1000 this year, little changed from 2007. ‘But we have highly flexible production and can adapt readily,’ he added.

BentleyProduction cut back to a three-day week; October production down 30 per cent. European sales in October running 40 per cent down on the same month last year.Aston MartinThe production boom fuelled by Aston’s cheapest model, the V8 Vantage, is now going sharply into reverse. Total output to end-September was almost double the 3153 of the same period in 2007, but dipped sharply in October. Euro-sales are now almost 25 per cent down.PorscheThe problems of high volume are now hitting home. Production is running 25 per cent down and European sales are a third lower and falling. But Porsche is the richest car maker in Europe, is well placed to ride out a recession and will benefit from the launch of the Panamera four-seater next year.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Used Volkswagen Golf R (Mk7, 2014-2020) review – the original hyper hatch now cheaper than any new car on sale today
Volkswagen Golf R (Mk7) front
In-depth reviews

Used Volkswagen Golf R (Mk7, 2014-2020) review – the original hyper hatch now cheaper than any new car on sale today

We were always huge fans of the Mk7 VW Golf R. That its successor has never quite lived up to its high standards has only underlined how good it was
1 May 2025
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale 2025 review – a rare Italian jewel beyond compare
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale front
Reviews

Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale 2025 review – a rare Italian jewel beyond compare

What’s Alfa Romeo’s near-£2m hand-built supercar like to drive? We find out, on the Balocco test track
29 Apr 2025
Ford Focus ST (Mk3) – the car world's greatest misses
Ford Focus ST Mk3
Features

Ford Focus ST (Mk3) – the car world's greatest misses

We’d hoped the 2015 Focus ST would share a good dose of its little brother’s magic. Sadly, it didn’t
28 Apr 2025