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trong economic growth in Indonesia has created confidence among premium carmakers that the market will still expand this year after strong performance in 2010.

The Indonesian automotive market recorded 5,327 high-end luxury vehicles were purchased from some 745,000 vehicles sold in 2010. The Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers Association (Gaikindo) expects sales of between 800,000 and 850,000 cars for the total market this year, which will be an all-time high.

Riding on such promising performance, ultra-premium carmaker Rolls-Royce Motor Cars aims to increase its sales performance in Indonesia by 30 to 50 percent this year.

Rolls-Royce executives, however, declined to reveal Indonesian sales numbers, citing company policy.

“We are not able to comment on market specific volume. All we can say is that we are expecting 30 to 50 percent growth compared to our sales last year,” Rolls-Royce South and East Asia and Pacific manager Brenda Pek told a media gathering Wednesday.

“Our sales in Indonesia in 2010 exceeded our expectation. Indonesia has been identified as a strong emerging market and will become a key market.”

Pek said Rolls-Royce delivered 2,711 cars in 2010, which was 171 percent increase compared to 2009.

She said the British company, now part of the German luxury carmaker BMW, dominated the ultra-luxury segment, where a car is priced over ¤200,000, or US$280,000 before tax.

Pek said most demand came from the Asia-Pacific region, with key markets in Greater China, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and India.

“The single largest markets for Rolls-Royce in 2010 were the US, China and the UK,” she said.

Currently, Rolls-Royce is marketing the Ghost in Indonesia, a luxury car designed for more day-to-day use.

“The Rolls-Royce Ghost has broadened our customer base with the average customer over the age of 40,” Pek said.

“Most of our customers buying the Ghost are new to the brand at 80 percent. The remaining 20 percent are existing customers who are buying their second or third Rolls-Royce car.”

Rolls-Royce Asia Pacific marketing and events manager Dan Balmer said the company was introducing the Rolls-Royce 102EX, which is basically a Phantom using an electric motor and battery instead of the V12 internal combustion engine to provide an alternative for the next 100 years.

He said the electric luxury car would be brought around the world to ask Rolls-Royce’ customers how they feel about driving an electric car.

The concept car was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2011.

In Asia, among other countries, Rolls-Royce will bring the car to Singapore so that Indonesian customers could also offer their opinions on the electric car.

Another important event this year is the 100th anniversary of the Spirit of Ecstasy, which is a trademark of Rolls-Royce.

“We will deliver 100 Phantom Spirit of Ecstasy edition cars this year,” Balmer said.