Ferrari At The 75th Geneva Motor Show
Published: 3rd March 2005
Between the 2004 Detroit Auto Show and this Motor Show in Geneva, Ferrari’s product range has undergone some major developments, courtesy of the market launches of the 612 Scaglietti, the F430 (which just a few months after its debut has already won several prestigious American and European awards), the Superamerica, and now the new F430 Spider.
Ferrari will now endeavour to repeat the extraordinary sales performance of 2004 when over 4,900 Prancing Horse cars were sold. Combined with the Maseratis delivered to their new owners, the Group has reported a consolidated turnover of €1.5 billion. The Group’s operating result was €6 million, a figure that reflects the significant investments made in the Maserati relaunch and Formula 1 as well as the rise in value of the euro against the dollar.
The Maserati relaunch will have its crowning moment when the Trident once again returns to complete autonomy in 2005, a move that will allow it to develop even further through a new collaboration with Alfa Romeo. However, thanks to Ferrari’s vital contribution to the Trident’s revival, the existing industrial, commercial and technical agreements between Maserati and the Prancing Horse will remain in place. In 2004, Maserati sold over 4,600 cars, an increase of over 60%.
With particular respect to Ferrari, the 20% increase in the Group’s consolidated turnover was due in large part to two factors. Firstly, an enormously impressive performance in certain key markets (North America, the United Kingdom, Japan and France), and secondly, launches in new and developing markets (China, Eastern Europe and South America), which also generated a major increase in sales volumes whilst still preserving the exclusivity of the brand.
The outlook for 2005 is very positive indeed: the company now has a range of new, even more technologically advanced products, the opportunity to concentrate all resources on growing Ferrari, and a new Formula 1 World Championship participation agreement. Having won six consecutive Constructors’ titles, the Scuderia will also be lining up at the start of the first Grand Prix next Sunday in Melbourne ahead of a long and promising season.
