Bentley Kyiv among the world’s best dealerships, despite the war
13/04/2026
Sometimes the automotive world delivers headlines that feel almost surreal.
During the European Scorecard Awards 2025 in Marbella, Bentley announced the results of its internal Business Performance Matrix, a system evaluating 61 dealerships worldwide across twelve key KPIs, including sales, marketing, operational excellence and customer experience. The final ranking looked as follows:
1st place — Bentley Padova
2nd place — Bentley Rotterdam
3rd place — Bentley Kyiv
In addition to its podium finish, Bentley Kyiv also received recognition in three additional categories: Sales, Marketing, and PM Best Improved. For a dealership operating in a country under immense geopolitical pressure, the achievement is remarkable.
A surprisingly strong luxury market
Even more striking is the broader context. According to Richard Leopold, Kyiv has become one of the strongest Bentley markets in Europe and reportedly ranks among the top cities for Bentley sales. Considering that most Bentley models start between €250,000 and €300,000, that level of demand inevitably raises questions.
Luxury markets, however, rarely follow the same economic patterns as the wider automotive industry. High-net-worth individuals tend to remain active buyers even during periods of economic or geopolitical instability.
Bentley itself has recorded some of its strongest global sales years since the pandemic, proof that the ultra-luxury segment continues to operate in a world of its own.
Controversy and criticism
The news has not gone unnoticed. Some commentators have criticized the optics of strong luxury sales in a country receiving extensive international financial aid.
Ukrainian journalist Diana Pachenko publicly questioned whether some of these purchases could be linked to misused funds, suggesting that certain vehicles may ultimately end up in Monaco or southern France.
Such claims are politically charged and difficult to verify, but they illustrate how sensitive luxury consumption can become during times of conflict.
AutoNext Take
From a purely automotive perspective, the result remains impressive. For Bentley Kyiv to outperform dozens of global dealerships (many operating in far more stable markets) highlights both the strength of the local team and the unusual dynamics of the global luxury market.
Because if there is one thing the automotive industry continues to prove, it is this: Luxury demand rarely disappears. It simply moves in ways the rest of the market does not.
