Montezemolo Speaks at Montreaux
5.7.00

At the Automotive News Europe congress held in Montreaux Luca de Montezemolo, Chairman of Ferrari and Maserati, said that size matters, even for a small company like Ferrari.

"We will never exceed 4,000 units a year because this volume protects brand exclusivity, the level of quality of the product and the resale value of our cars," said di Montezemolo.

He added: "I'm not ready to make a small Ferrari, because it would have to be cheaper - so the typical content of a Ferrari would be missing.

"For this reason Maserati is a good opportunity to have higher volumes and lower prices," said di Montezemolo. "We plan to reach 10,000 units within the next three years."

Ferrari took full control of Fiat-owned Maserati two years ago. Maserati built just 734 units in 1998. This year it plans to sell 2,000 cars.

Di Montezemolo said that Maserati would re-enter the US market in late 2001 with the current 3200 GT coupe and its coming spider derivative.

A new Quattroporte four-door flagship will follow, styled by Pininfarina. The 3200 GT and its spider were designed by Italdesign. Pininfarina, the Turin coachbuilder and design house, is the traditional Ferrari stylist.

"I will never make a Ferrari four-door car, so it made sense to involve Pininfarina in making the new Quattroporte," he said. "On the contrary, because they pen our Ferrari sports cars, I'll never ask Pininfarina for a Maserati coupe."


Acknowledgement: Luca Ciferri, Automotive News Europe

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