You Will Have to Shoot Sergio Marchionne Before Ferrari Builds an SUV
Don’t expect to see a Ferrari SUV model anytime soon, if at all.
While Lamborghini is working on its production Urus SUV, Ferrari has no intention of creating a competitor despite the growth of the crossover and SUV segments. In a conference call with analysts, chairman and FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed that Ferrari won’t try to boost demand with an SUV model, saying “You have to shoot me first.”
Ferrari aims to ship 7,900 vehicles this year but Marchionne cautioned that growth will likely slow down in the Italian automaker’s first full year of independence from FCA. Last year, Ferrari sold 7,664 units worldwide, marking a six-percent increase. Deliveries in China however, dropped 22 percent in 2015 and Marchionne doesn’t believe it will recover this year.
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Earlier this year, Marchionne announced that Ferrari will eventually boost its production past its target of 9,000 units per year in 2019. The company previously capped deliveries to about 7,000 cars a year to preserve its exclusivity. Marchionne added in the conference call that the Italian automaker has a “strong backlog of orders.”
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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oh that's OK. The Brand Dilution Specialist can still pull off his plot by raising production numbers into the high 4 figures :) more numbers =less exclusivity =depreciation =less investment value =cross shopping other brands =lesser brands becoming equals
If (heaven forbid) Marchionne ever gets shot, SUV production probably will be low on the list of reasons.