Bentley Sees Sales Boom in Pandemic-Stricken Year

The Covid-19 pandemic may have devastated the auto industry as the healthcare and economic crisis swept the U.S., and the rest of the world, but not every carmaker had a miserable year.

2020 was Bentley Motors’ best sales year on the books, Autoweek reports. The British luxury vehicle manufacturer that was founded in 1919 sold more than 11,200 cars last year. 

“Even though we anticipated greater sales before the pandemic struck, when you consider the level of restrictions around the world for the majority of the year, to achieve a record sales performance is a strong measure of our potential,” Adrian Hallmark, Bentley’s chairman and chief executive officer said in a statement announcing the sales data.

The news comes as major car companies staggered into the new year, hoping that the worst of a pandemic-drive sales decline is behind them.

Fiat Chrysler’s new car sales plummeted by 17% over the year in the U.S. alone, according to the Detroit Free Press. General Motors and Ford similarly saw sales slip by 12% to 16% over the same period.

Bentley pointed to a surge in demand from China as a primary driver for the sales bump. According to the company, Chinese sales jumped by 48%, which Autoweek says is a sign that the region is set to displace America as tops for Bentley sales.

“As we look to the year ahead we remain cautiously optimistic as much remains uncertain,” Hallmark said.

Legal Protections for California Car Owners

The new sales data is welcomed news for Bentley and a possible sign of life in the auto industry. Still, it comes as many carmakers still have a hard time putting vehicles on the road that are safe to drive.

Last year, for example, Bentley recalled some 6,000 Bentayga sport utility vehicles because of a fuel line problem that could cause the cars to catch fire. 

Car manufacturers often do not become aware of these defects until long after cars have left the assembly line. The companies can also be slow to take corrective action.

The good news for California car owners is that the state’s lemon law requires car manufacturers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces the company to buy back or replace cars that it is unwilling or unable to fix. 

How a California Lemon Law Lawyer Can Help

If you are a California car owner or lessor who is stuck with a malfunctioning vehicle or locked in a dispute with a manufacturer over repairs, an experienced California lemon law lawyer can help. A lawyer will work with you to weigh your rights and options to ensure that the carmaker is held fully accountable.

At Bickel Sannipoli APC, we have represented hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases in Southern California and across the state. We work tirelessly to get the people we represent the compensation they deserve.

Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco.  Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law lawyer today.