Ferrari has denied falling victim to the global economic crisis, even though it plans to shed up to 10 per cent of its workforce this week.
Global sales at the Italian supercar maker have dived from almost 600 a month to just 92 cars in November and Ferrari is now negotiating with Italy’s trade unions to trim unwanted road-car production staff.
The company has admitted it could shed up to 300 employees as early as this Friday.
Ferrari will also shut its Maranello production plant for an unprecedented 20 days over Christmas, which sources insist will be to prevent vehicle stockpiles reaching unmanageable levels.
The company won its 16th F1 World Constructor’s Championship last month and still boasts of a two-year waiting list on its high-priced, exclusive road cars, but sources said that troubling stocks have built up at some of its distributors around the world, particularly in the UK.
As recently as the Paris motor show last October, Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo had been speaking of a sales target of 10,000 cars for 2010 which, even with the new Ferrari California on stream early next year, now seems wildly optimistic.
Back then di Montezemolo insisted the financial crisis held no concerns for Ferrari because a reduction in sales would allow it to respond quickly to markets that might have otherwise waited years for cars.
“Of course the economic problems are being considered,” he said. “It depends how long this crisis goes on, if this is close to the end or not. Because we will see a different world out the other side."
The Ferrari chairman went on castigate the financiers whom he regards as responsible for the economic meltdown.
“It will be a world more close to industry and real numbers and products and not close to speculation," said di Montezemolo.
“I hope that when it finishes there will be more feet on the ground in the financial world,” he said.
Insiders have confirmed that sales of the V12-powered Ferrari 612 Scaglietti and Ferrari 599 Fiorano have effectively stalled and Ferrari has moved both models into a special customisation program to mask the seriousness of the problem.
Even worse, sales of its smaller, V8-powered Ferrari F430 – the core of the company's volume and profit, and due to be replaced late in 2009 – plummeted after the official unveiling of Ferrari’s new California in October.
Ferrari has denied that the company has been adversely affected by the credit crunch. The company said that the extended break was merely Ferrari being generous to its employees, even if all contracts were under review.
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Re: Ferrari denies sales crisis
I wouldn't use the Veyron as a case study in a business model to survive the current economic times- VW loses over a 1 million on each Veyron it sells!.
As for Ferrari, well they've always been economical with the truth- whatever it be the build quality,reliability or thier performance figures.
So why would they know start being honest now?, even though the facts are pointing to issues!!
I wouldn't worry too much about them, they have sugar daddies in Fiat. If Fiat end up in trouble they've got the safetly net of Arab oil sheikhs that would buy a bigger shareholding....
They need people buying Ferraris- after all there aren't many manufacturers whose smallest engine size is a 4.3 V8!!
It appears the majority of us are going to end up driving Priuses or some petrol/diesel bluesomethingstopthisstartthat FSIOPTDSI..that manages 70mpg...
Re: Ferrari denies sales crisis
I think you're right, and that may well be the way Ferrari have to go too. I notice Lamborghini have just delivered the last Reventon, so they're obviously thinking along the same lines.
The 50 - 200k sector is the most vulnerable at times like this, as cars in this range could just about be described as "aspirational" to someone with a well-paid job, but are therefore particularly susceptible to a downturn. The super-rich are better placed to survive, and may still fancy new toys, if not quite as many as before. For example, Bugatti are offering the first 40 targa Veyrons to existing Veyron owners only.
Nice life for some, eh?
Re: Changes in the market
Why don't Ferrari just cut prices? I agree that manufacturers should just say what they mean. It's tough times for everyone. Look at what's happening in America. Ferrari will no doubt ride this one out like they rode out the recession of the early 1990s and look what they were selling then compared to today's offerings. More special editions should be enticing for those who want something more than a production Ferrari, which is all the company produced for many a year.