In photos: Kazakhstan becoming the new frontier for ultra luxury cars
Rolls-Royce’s search for buyers of cars like the $294,000 Wraith coupe has landed it in Kazakhstan, where the average person lives on about $330 a month. Thanks to an abundance of oil and metals riches, the former Soviet republic has a big enough wealthy class to lure the likes of Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Maserati to the pot-holed streets of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s biggest city. There are now about 250 Bentleys on Kazakh roads, including some 60 new vehicles sold since the company opened a dealership in Almaty in 2011.
Luxury automobiles sit on display in the Maserati luxury automobile dealership in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015. Oil-rich Kazakhstan represents the new frontier for the makers of the world's most expensive cars, as China's luxury market slows down.Bloomberg
A Rolls-Royce Wraith luxury automobile sits on display inside the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. dealership, operated by Astana Motors, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg
A Rolls-Royce Wraith luxury automobile sits on display inside the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. dealership, operated by Astana Motors, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg
A Bentley logo sits above the entrance to the Bentley Motors Ltd. luxury automobile dealership in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg
Pedestrians wait at a bus stop outside luxury automobile showrooms operated by Bentley Motors Ltd., left, and Maserati in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg
A Maserati logo sits on the brake caliper and wheel assembly of a luxury automobile in the Maserati luxury automobile dealership in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg
A Maserati logo sits on the front grill of a luxury automobile in the Maserati luxury automobile dealership in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg
A Rolls-Royce Wraith luxury automobile sits on display inside the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. dealership, operated by Astana Motors, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg
A Rolls-Royce Wraith luxury automobile sits on display inside the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. dealership, operated by Astana Motors, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg
A Rolls-Royce Wraith luxury automobile sits on display inside the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. dealership, operated by Astana Motors, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg
A "Flying Lady" hood ornament sits on the bonnet of a Rolls-Royce Wraith luxury automobile as it sits on display inside the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. dealership, operated by Astana Motors, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg
An employee works behind the service desk in the Maserati luxury automobile dealership in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg
A Bentley Continental GT luxury automobile sits in the Bentley Motors Ltd. dealership in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg
A customer approaches his Bentley automobile after inspecting new marques inside the Bentley Motors Ltd. dealership in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg
A Bentley Continental GT luxury automobile sits on display in the Bentley Motors Ltd. dealership in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg
A Bentley Continental Flying Spur luxury automobile sits on display in the Bentley Motors Ltd. dealership in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg
Branded flags fly outside the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. dealership, operated by Astana Motors, right, and a Hyundai Motor Co. showroom in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg
An employee lifts the hood of a Rolls-Royce Wraith luxury automobile inside the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. dealership, operated by Astana Motors, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg
An employee lifts the hood of a Rolls-Royce Wraith luxury automobile inside the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. dealership, operated by Astana Motors, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Thursday, June 25, 2015.Bloomberg