Lamborghini’s China Sales May Outpace U.S. on Aventador
By - Apr 19, 2011 8:53 AM MT
The Lamborghini SpA Aventador has a 700-horsepower V12 engine that surges to 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour in 2.9 seconds. Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
Automobili Lamborghini SpA Chief Executive Officer Stephan Winkelmann. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg
Automobili Lamborghini SpA will probably sell more supercars in China than in the U.S. for the first time this year, a sign of the Asian country’s growing importance to luxury-car makers.
The Aventador LP 700-4, priced at 255,000 euros ($364,000) in Europe, has sold out the first 18 months of production, and China accounts for a fifth of buyers so far, Chief Executive Officer Stephan Winkelmann said in an interview today at the Shanghai auto show. Sales may grow further when deliveries start in the third quarter.
“I believe that China will become our most important market this year,” Winkelmann said. “Customer feedback on the Aventador is sheerly incredible here. There’s more to come when the car visibly arrives.”
Luxury-car makers, including Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) and Daimler AG (DAI)’s Mercedes-Benz, are recording surging demand in the world’s largest car market, as growing wealth defies the government’s efforts to clamp down on conspicuous consumption. The U.S., traditionally the stronghold of luxury-auto demand, is suffering from the after effects of excessive spending during the real estate boom.
“You’ve got a growing number of millionaires and billionaires that are prepared to show their wealth,” said Ian Fletcher, a London-based analyst with IHS Automotive. “It doesn’t help that the U.S. has become awash in $300,000 cars off the back of the bubble. Everyone who wanted a Lamborghini Gallardo has one by now, while in China it’s a new toy thing.”
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