Ferrari customers, owners, and enthusiasts in India can take advantage of their very own Ferrari dealer now, following the opening of their first dealership in New Delhi, India.
The 500 square metre building is on two levels, with the ground floor devoted to the cars and the second floor for use by customers in the purchase and personalisation of them.
The opening was hosted by Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa, Ferrari Commercial and Marketing Director Enrico Galliera, and Ashish Chordia, Chairman of the Shreyans Group, the Ferrari importer for the country.
The Ferrari CEO said:
“Our objective was to launch the Indian market in 2011 and it ‘s a pleasure to inaugurate this first dealership here today. We feel that this is the right moment, considering the dynamism of the country and its economy. Here in India you feel great enthusiasm and a strong connection to the Ferrari brand, which, even before officially entering India, had already around 50 clients in the country. Naturally the entire range will be available on this market, imported by the Shreyans Group, the partner we’ve chosen and who shares with us not just the desire to invest, but also the passion for Ferrari and its values.”
The Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro drivers, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, already in Monte Carlo for the next race, sent their greetings to the guests through a video message, looking forward to coming to India in October for the first Indian GP.
India is the second fastest growing market in the world, second only to China. Sales of passenger vehicles grew by 31% in India in January-November 2010, with Japan growing by 10%, and 9% in Brazil, 5% in the USA and 3% in the UK. Sales in China, the world’s largest car market grew 39%, according to figures provided by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam).
While absolute sales volumes are relatively low at the moment, with only 5% of global car production being sold there, high growth ensures that the global importance of India is recognised by all car manufacturers.
India’s importance as a car manufacturing country is growing too. It now accounts for 5% of global car production now, up from 1.4% in 2000 including a new Jaguar Land Rover assembly plant at Pune, which will assemble Land Rover Freelander 2 vehicles supplied in Complete Knock Down (CKD) kits from the Halewood manufacturing plant in Liverpool, UK.
The sales of commercial vehicles in India grew even more rapidly than for cars, making them the fastest growing market in the world with an increase of 47% for the same period, ahead of Brazil’s 41%, China’s 25%, USA’s 18% and UK and Germany’s 15%. “After slow years in 2008 and 2009, last year saw demand for commercial vehicles shoot up due to the healthy economic growth and infrastructure development as well as the stimulus packages of the government. All indicators remained healthy, leading to sustained buying,” said Abdul Majeed, a partner at Price Waterhouse.
“A sustained and healthy economic growth, easier financing rates, new models and a surge in stock markets are among the reasons that pushed numbers in the year gone by,” said Siam president Pawan Goenka.
