Sales joy for Rolls-Royce and Ferrari

Car sales may be in freefall, but at least two manufacturers are bucking the trend.

Rolls-Royce delivered 129 cars last month, which is 7.5% up on 12 months ago. Furthermore, orders have risen 42.8% since the start of the year to 827 cars.

Underlining its buoyant sales, Rolls-Royce has hired 200 additional staff at its Goodwood plant this year and will add a further 200 jobs during 2009.

Meanwhile, Ferrari has reported that its new California model, which was unveiled last week at the Paris motor show, has sold out until 2011.

Ferrari has pledged to build at least 2000 Californias, which cost around 145,000, a year.