This New Year seems to be a very lucky one for Indian car enthusiasts. Two legendary automobile manufacturing companies have decided to give a bumper offer for their Indian customers. Following Ferrari’s decision, Maserati has also planned to re-enter the Indian automobile market. While the first innings for both Maserati and Ferrari was disappointing, the companies seem to be completely ready for their wild card entry.
Interestingly, the firm confirmed the news of a comeback after its Maranello headquartered sibling Ferrari too confirmed its plans by appointing two new, Delhi and Mumbai dealerships. They will handle the sales and service for the Ferrari customers. On one hand this news may be surprising for many, for automobile market experts, it is an intelligent decision. The Indian automobile market is on a boil due to increasing number of billionaires in the country, and the auto companies are keen to take advantage of this situation. Ranging from Rolls Royce and Bentley to Lamborghini and Porsche, almost every leading company has launched its products in the Indian market. Despite 170% total tax and duties on models imported via CBU, India has transformed into one of the largest supercar market in Asia-Oceania region. Umberto Cini, managing director of Maserati Global Overseas Markets quoted “As part of Maserati’s growth strategy, we are constantly evaluating market opportunities. This also includes India, as we consider it as one of the key growth markets for the automotive industry worldwide,”
If things move in a perfectly smooth manner, then Maserati’s gift would be available to the Indian customers by the end of 2015. This gift is expected to contain the whole range of exotic Maserati cars comprising of Quattroporte, Ghibli, GranTourismo and GranCabrio. The company will be bringing this range using the CBU route. The prices are expected to start from Rs. 3 crores.
Ferrari, on the other hand, will most likely offer cars like the California T convertible, FF, 458 Italia, F12 Berlinetta, 458 Spider. The prices are expected to be between Rs. 3 crores and Rs. 7 crores.
In the year 2011, both the companies had chosen Shreyans group as the official importer for their cars in the country. But finally, after receiving several complaints from customers’ side, the ties were broken. The contract was terminated in 2012 – 13 for Maserati while Ferrari parted away in early 2014. Some other companies like Ducati and Porsche too took the same decision because of the same reasons. The Fiat Chrysler Group, which owns both the firms, it appears, wants to modify the history and write a better one. It should also be mentioned here that Ducati is also planning to come back to Indian market under the supervision of its new owners, Audi.
With the strong following in India, for Maserati’s existing customers this would be a sure-shot grand news. The company expects to starts selling its cars from the second half of 2015 while Ferrari will begin sales from the first quarter of 2015.
Maserati had spoken earlier about its plans for increasing dealership number on a global level and bring it to the number 100 soon. The plan, of re-joining Indian market, would surely help the Italian company to achieve this target.
The only thing that is yet to be seen is the sort of feedback and welcome both the companies get from the Indian market.
