TWO new dealerships have been appointed by Rolls-Royce to serve the Italian market.

Facilities are currently under construction in Rome and Milan. The announcement was made at the Villa d' Este, close to Lake Como, where Rolls-Royce is celebrating its centenary.

BMW Group Italia owns the groups that will sell the models. New showrooms, exclusively dedicated to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, are currently being built at Via della Unione Europea in Milan and at Via Salaria in Rome.

Customers and visitors can already view the new Rolls-Royce Phantom at the Milan site, where a temporary showroom has been established.

Tony Gott, chairman and CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said: 'We are delighted to announce the opening of these two new showrooms at such prestigious locations and during our celebrations of 100 years of the brand Rolls-Royce in the year 2004. I am particularly proud to confirm that the very first Rolls-Royce Phantom has already been sold in Italy and delivered to its owner.'