China helps drive Rolls to record year (2)

"We are cautiously optimistic about our business in China in 2013, and I would not be surprised to see China as our No 1 market again this year," he added.

He attributed his confidence to China's "fantastic" and "reliable" economic growth, predicted this year to be at 8 to 9 percent.

"It's certainly a positive market compared with many other mature markets."

He added the company expected to continue expanding its network of China showrooms in 2013, especially in second-tier cities and in the western part of the country, without disclosing detailed numbers.

Rolls-Royce currently has 15 dealers across the country.

During 2012, its two dealerships in Beijing and Shanghai were listed among the top three worldwide in terms of sales, for the second year running.

Looking at the Chinese auto sector in general, Muller-Otvos added that he sees ongoing demand for ultra luxury cars continuing to grow, both in China and across Asia.

A recent report from Hurun Research Institute showed that China's population of millionaires (with assets worth more than 10 million yuan, or $1.6 million) topped a million for the first time at the end of 2011, up by 60,000 to 1.1 million. Within that was an elite group of 63,500 super-rich individuals, with assets worth more than 100 million yuan.

The report also said that the number of high net worth people in China doubled from 2008 to 2011 and is expected to double again by 2015.

According to figures from French research company Robb and Ipsos, Chinese millionaires most favor leather goods and automobiles, which accounted for about 20 percent of their total consumption a year.