As rivals Audi and BMW maintain impressive growth even amid a less ebullient auto industry environment in China, Mercedes-Benz has faltered in 2012, owing mostly to an inconsistent strategic blueprint.

An uncertain global economy hasn't significantly dented sales for ultra-luxury automaker Bentley, which announced today that sales as of the end of September had reached 5,969 units, a 25 percent increase year-on-year, up from 4,759 in 2011.

With demand rising steadily in inland China as consumers in top-tier cities on the country's wealthier east coast cut back, luxury automakers are looking to expand in second-, third- and even fourth-tier Chinese cities in the hopes of pushing sustainable long-term growth.

Pending final approval by the Chinese government, Jaguar Land Rover's first factory abroad should open near Shanghai and will produce either the Freelander or Evoque.

Together, Spyker and Youngman plan to create a new joint venture, of which Youngman will control 75 percent, to build an ultra-luxury SUV reminiscent of Spyker's D8/D12 Peking-to-Paris concept and put it on the market by 2014.