Luxurious 'self-rewards' are on a roll

Rolls-Royce Ltd recently announced its highest-ever annual sales, reaching a level of 3,630 cars sold in 2013, its fourth consecutive record-breaking year. The epitome of luxury in the car industry, Rolls-Royce stands proudly at the top of the market for cars that cost more than $250,000.

While many markets experienced impressive sales growth in 2013, including the UK and the Middle East, up by 7 percent and 17 percent respectively, it is now China that has become the No 1 global market for this most exclusive of luxury car brands, overtaking the US market. Sales in China grew 11 percent in 2013 and accounted for 28 percent of overall sales, up from 25 percent in 2012.

Of the 15 more dealerships launched in 2013, seven of them were in China, taking the total number in China to 20. Dealerships were added in seven new cities in 2013 in such places as Chongqing and Xi'an. The company plans to add more this year, with a goal of 25 by the end of 2014.