Recession takes its toll on luxury marques

Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini and luxury carmakers, who just five months ago said they'd buck the recession, are finding they're not immune after all.

The new millionaires of Asia and the Middle East have curbed spending, executives from companies including Rolls and Ferrari said in interviews at the Geneva Motor Show this week, torpedoing a market they'd counted on to spur growth after the banking crisis eroded orders in Europe and the US.

"Conventional wisdom has it that premium manufacturers do better in a downturn because people with more money can weather the storm," said Michael Tyndall, an automotive specialist with Nomura in London. "This time it's different."