News January 6 2007

Maserati reports sales in Oz up 33%

Official Australian vehicle sales source VFACTS reports this month that Maserati has increased sales by more than 33 per cent in 2006, setting a new all-time annual sales record for Maserati in Australia. This is despite car sales overall declining and its chief rivals seeing their sales increases limited to single figures.

“The increase in Maserati sales reflects the growing demand for true exclusiveness, as well as a growing recognition and awareness of the traditional Maserati benefits of style, performance and quality,” says Edward Butler, General Manager for Maserati in Australia and New Zealand. “Increasingly we are finding that car buyers at the top end of the market do not want to own a car that shares a badge with a van, a 4WD or a $30,000 hatchback. They want a car that offers exclusivity and even with our growing sales, this will always be the case with a Maserati.”

In 2007 – as we have already reported on ItalianCar - the new fully automatic version of Quattroporte arrives.

“While the DuoSelect gearbox has proven an ideal match for Maserati’s performance reputation in the Quattroporte, there has been, nevertheless, a demand for a full automatic option,” explains Mr Butler. “This will arrive in 2007 and, given the Australian and New Zealand market’s penchant for full automatic gearboxes, we expect the Quattroporte automatic to become the dominant version in the range and significantly lifting sales.”

The Maserati Quattroporte automatic will make its world debut at the Detroit International Motor Show this month and will arrive in Australia at the Melbourne motor show in March. Australian and New Zealand sales will begin soon after, when local pricing and specifications will be announced.

Last year was the first full year for the new Australian and New Zealand importer, European Automotive Imports and a significant sales boost was just one of their commitments to Maserati when they took over in October 2005.

“The past 12 months has seen a significant lift in the quality of Maserati’s representation in Australia and New Zealand,” says Mr Butler. “We have opened all-new Maserati dealerships in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. In 2007 we will open a new Maserati dealership in Christchurch and upgrade the Maserati dealerships in Auckland, Adelaide and Perth. These improvements to our customer service will continue and expand in 2007,” says Mr Butler, “and, combined with the arrival of the Quattroporte automatic, we expect further growth for Maserati in both Australia and New Zealand during the coming year.”