Bentley’s sales in China fell last year as the luxury carmaker felt the pain of a crackdown on exuberant spending and ostentatious purchases that has taken the shine off the world’s largest luxury goods market. China was the only region to post a decline in sales for the British carmaker, underlining fears from other luxury retailers such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, LVMH and Rémy Cointreau that a government push to reduce lavish spending will stunt growth.

“Philosophically, I would say that it is less accepted to show wealth [in China] at this moment,” said Kevin Rose, the sales and marketing director. “We hope that will change.”

While Bentley’s global sales rose 19 per cent in 2013, its sales in China fell 3 per cent, compared with a 23 per cent gain in 2012 and a doubling of sales in 2011.