Supercar manufacturer Ferrari is back in the Indian market with its new models. The legendary Italian marquee brand opened its second innings in the country by showcasing the Ferrari California T in Mumbai on August 26.
Priced at ₹3.45 crore, the new, sporty California T will soon be zooming on Indian roads, given the "unprecedented orders and enquiries that the company's dealers have received". For now, Ferrari has said it would be operating out of two dealerships, one in Mumbai and one in Delhi. Dealerships in Bangalore and Chennai could be on the anvil, said an official, depending on the growing interest from other metro markets.
Aurelien Sauvard, Sales Coordinator, Ferrari, Middle East and Africa, said the Mumbai and Delhi dealers, the two official importers, had already received several orders and enquiries about the California T. "The brand helps us up to a certain point, but we need good partners to carry the brand ahead in the key market in the months to come," he told BusinessLine.
The luxury car manufacturer had an India debut in 2011, but had severed ties with its India importer following several consumer complaints of poor after-sales service. Attempting to lay to rest any ambiguities, Sauvard said the supercar would now be retailed by Navnit Motors in Mumbai, and Select Cars in Delhi, and that both these outlets would extend after sales service to existing Ferrari owners.
"Currently, we have around 45-50 Ferrari cars zooming all around India. The demand will keep on increasing, and we need to ensure that the logistical and service issues that had plagued our previous stint are eliminated. On a case to case basis, we have serviced some complaints from India directly with the factory in Italy," added Sauvard.
Speaking about the Ferrari California T, Sauvard said the new turbocharged V8 engine would ensure an increase in torque by 49 per cent, and bring about a reduction of 15 per cent in fuel consumption.
"What our team and engineers have been able to do is to keep the Ferrari tag flying high with this model, as well as bring about a great performance, with no turbo lag. It is a misnomer to think that a Ferrari consumer is not bothered about fuel consumption," he said, adding that the company hopes to retail 15 Ferrari California T by the end of the year.
The California T is the entry level Ferrari, and replaces the erstwhile California, though it retains the 2+2 layout, replete with a retractable hard top.
New models
Over the next four months, the luxury auto giant is also looking to line-up other models in India, such as the new 488 GTB, the 458 Speciale, the 458 Spider, and the four-seater FF.
"The new 488 GTB should be available in Mumbai and across the country by the beginning of next year," said Sharad Kachalia of Navnit Motors, the Mumbai dealer.
"The F12 Berlinetta has already made a mark in Mumbai, and we have delivered two of them last week," he said. The ex-showroom cost of F12 Berlinetta is ₹4.87 crore.
Navnit Motors is to open a new showroom for Ferrari at Bandra Kurla Complex in suburban Mumbai, by October 2015, while a new showroom would also open doors shortly at Mathura Road in Delhi.