August 23, 2013: The Indian economy may be witnessing a very challenging period now but super luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce insists its business in India is insulated from it. At least till now. Perhaps that’s why its expansion plans are on track. The BMW-owned British marque will open two more dealerships – one each in Ahmedabad and Chandigarh – by October this year.

“India remains the most important market for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in South and South East Asia,” says Herfried Hasenoehrl, general manager for emerging markets, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. He adds that the carmaker is likely to add “one or two” additional dealers in 2014. That would take the total number of Rolls-Royce dealerships in India to seven from three at present (Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad).

With these planned dealerships going operational by end-2013, India will have the maximum number of dealerships among all markets in South and South East Asia. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars sells its products in around 10 countries in the region.

The company has added its seventh model – the Wraith – in India now. This most powerful (624bhp) Rolls-Royce sports an entry-level price of Rs 4.6 crore. As part of its India launch exercise, the car is on a three-month-long tour of India. “It is the longest tour in the Asia-Pacific region,” says Hasenoehrl.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars began its India operations in 2005. There are around 250 Rolls-Royces in the country.

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Photograph: Herfried Hasenoehrl, general manager for emerging markets, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars (left) and Sharad Kachalia, director, sales and marketing, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Mumbai at the launch of the Wraith in Mumbai today.