HGB Group Co Ltd, the distributor for Mazda and Kia vehicles in Cambodia, was named yesterday as the country’s official Rolls-Royce dealer.

At a news conference held at the Sofitel Phnom Penh hotel, Paul Harris, regional director for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Asia, confirmed the luxury English vehicle brand would commence sales in Cambodia by the fourth quarter of this year from a newly built 465-square-metre showroom to be located on Street 217.

The showroom will house Rolls-Royce’s Phantom, Wraith and Ghost models, with prices starting at about $450,000.

“Demand for our cars has increased to the point that a dealership is necessary,” Harris said.

Rolls-Royce is the latest luxury vehicle brand to enter the Kingdom’s new car market, joining BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche, Land Rover and Jaguar.

Cham Prasidh, minister of industry and handicraft, said at yesterday’s press conference that there are already more than a dozen Rolls-Royces vehicles driving on Cambodian roads.

“I believe there is room to sell Rolls-Royce in Cambodia. There are many oknhas now who can afford them,” he said, referring to people granted the honorific by the King in return for assisting Cambodia’s development.

“The quality will make you forget about the price.”