Like matter, money is not created or destroyed -- it only shifts position. And in a financial crisis that shift is largely upward it seems.
What better evidence of that than an announcement by Rolls-Royce of a £10 million expansion in its production plant in Goodwood, West Sussex? The announcement, made today, is a response to "significant growth" in worldwide sales over the past 18 months, says the BMW-owned brand.
Not only has demand risen – it has risen particularly sharply for the services of Rolls' Bespoke division, devoted to individualising Ghost and Phantom models according to unique customer requests. At considerable cost, of course.
Alongside the plant expansion, the company has doubled its numbers of artisans and engineers to keep up with demand for bespoke product.
The expansion will see the marque’s Assembly Hall grow by more than 2500 square metres and the Surface Finish Centre by more than 640 square metres.
The project is a response to record sales in 2010 and growing demand in both domestic and international markets.
The company is supplementing its production expansion with the appointment of several new dealerships worldwide – in North America, Asia Pacific and Europe, with more planned before year’s end.
Construction of the new facilities will start in Q3-4 2011 and take about a year, Rolls Royce said.