Ultra-luxury brand Rolls-Royce has announced that it is to enter South America for the first time in its history.

Its first dealerships were likely to open earlier next year, during a visit to the continent by Rolls-Royce boss Torsten Müller-Ötvös.

Rolls-Royce models will be sold by dealerships operated by the Via Italia group in Brazil and Williamson Balfour Motors in Chile.

Müller-Ötvös said “Brazil and Chile have seen impressive economic growth, with an increasing demand from discerning customers for pinnacle luxury products.”

With a similar phenomenon underway in China, Rolls-Royce has seen sales increase by 41 percent in the first nine months of this year.

The luxury carmaker recently announced an expansion of its UK manufacturing plant to cope with the increased interest in its Bespoke Ghost and Phantom models.

Rolls Royce competitor Bentley opened its first showroom in South America last year in Sao Paulo, selling its flagship Mulsanne and Continental models.