China to be a global top 5 market of Lamborghini

Shanghai, March 17 (Gasgoo.com) In an interview at the Geneva Motor Show 2009, Lamborghini's President & CEO Stephan Winkelmann stressed that China has played a significant role in Lamborghini’s business in Asia and the company plans to make China one of its global top five markets. He added that the Chinese market (now globally ranked among the top ten) will anyway exceed the Japanese market, despite Japan’s current lead in the sales amount, Guangzhou Daily reported today.

Stephan Winkelmann expressed that he was still optimistic towards the Chinese market since the Chinese government has implemented a series of effective measures to revitalize the economy.

It is reported that Lamborghini achieved global sales of 2,430 units last year, which created a milestone record in the company's history. However, the landmark glory is somewhat diluted by the fact that Lamborghini, with only 72 units sold out last year, still lags behind its close rival Ferrari in the Chinese market. So far there are only two Lamborghini models (e.g. Murcielago) available in China, priced over three million yuan ($44,000). The leading markets that have contributed to Lamborghini’s global sales include the U.S., Germany, Italy, as well as Japan. 

As a unit of the Volkswagen AG, Lamborghini shows up in/at the Geneva Motor Show 2009 with two new models. But as early as 2004, the company entered the Chinese market and established its sales branch there. Stephan Winkelmann said Lamborghini is planning to set up two to three new 4S stores in addition to the present four (located in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou) so as to promote the company's development in China.

What's more, in order to enhance brand recognition and corporate reputation, Lamborghini will attend the 2009 Shanghai Auto Show in April. However, the company will not employ any brand spokesperson as a means of promotion (Ferrari’s spokesperson Schumacher has brought tremendous benefits to the brand). Considering the instability of the global economy, Stephan Winkelmann suggests that Lamborghini should strive to achieve fair profitability even though its sales in 2009 may remain the same as last year.