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 car deals of the week: a Ferrari F12 for supersaloon money
F12 Used car deals
News

Used car deals of the week: a Ferrari F12 for supersaloon money

We dive into the classifieds this week to find the very best performance cars for the least amount of money, including a cut-price V12 Ferrari
13 Feb 2026
Abarth 695 (2012-2024) review – why we’ll miss Italy’s Mini Cooper S rival
Abarth 695 – front
Reviews

Abarth 695 (2012-2024) review – why we’ll miss Italy’s Mini Cooper S rival

The Abarth 695 (and all Abarth 500s in fact) have a sense of humour the hot hatch segment will sorely miss
13 Feb 2026
Best electric cars – the EVs worthy of a chance, from hatchbacks to hypercars
Best electric cars
Best cars

Best electric cars – the EVs worthy of a chance, from hatchbacks to hypercars

There's a huge variety of electric cars on sale in 2026 – here are the best examples the breed
13 Feb 2026