FERRARI launched its first dealership in India today, with the aim of satisfying demand for flashy cars from the growing class of Asia’s super-rich.
The full range of sports cars from the Italian manufacturer will be on sale, with the cheapest model, the California, priced at `22m (£298,000/ $485,000) after punitive import tariffs of more than 100 per cent are applied.
“We decided that after 2010 India was ready for Ferrari,” group chief executive Amedeo Felisa told reporters at the launch of the dealership in central New Delhi.
“New models are coming this year on the market, so why not use this moment to enter a new market?” he said. “India is the 58th country where Ferrari is present in the world.”
There are already about 50 privately imported Ferraris on India’s potholed and congested roads, including one belonging to cricket superstar Sachin Tendulkar who reportedly drives at night to avoid the traffic.
In April, Aston Martin joined the list of luxury marques driving into India, where Lamborghini also has a dealership.
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