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Lamborghini Says Supercar Sales Slowing In China

 
3 1,921 views Feb 21, 2012

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

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Given the exponential growth of the Chinese economy over the past few years, it was inevitable that market conditions would eventually cool. In the fourth quarter of 2011, China’s economy grew at the slowest pace in over two years, and the trade ministry has described the current export outlook as “grim.”

In other words, China’s economy is now creating fewer wealthy citizens than at any time in the past few years, and those with money are beginning to think twice about spending it.

Automotive News Europe (subscription required) quotes Lamborghini’s general manager for the Asia Pacific region, Christian Mastro, as saying, “If you look at the (Chinese) economy right now, there may be some uncertainty to make people wait a little.”

Mastro admits that the pool of potential Lamborghini customers in China is limited, and a slowing economy is likely to shrink that even further. In 2011, Lamborghini sold 342 cars in China, an increase of about 70 percent over 2010’s 206 units. Growth for 2012 is expected to be just 20 percent, with sales of roughly 400 units expected.

To compensate, Lamborghini is expanding its Chinese dealer network and upping the amount of money spent on marketing by some 20 percent. Events such as track days are planned to create interest and (hopefully) generate sales.

Other high-end automakers expect to see cooling sales in the region as well. While Rolls-Royce has stopped short of quoting a 2012 forecast for the Chinese market, it does admit that sales growth in China will be less “explosive” in 2012.



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Comments (3)

  1. WizardsLore avatar WizardsLore Posted: 2/21/2012 7:20pm PST

    while the bubble may not be bursting it only stands to reason tht sales woudl slow down for ageing models. Once a new model comes out that demand will increase again as asians are notorious for wanting to be seen in the latest and greatest
     
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  2. fb_1491948054 avatar Kurt Ernst Posted: 2/22/2012 3:27am PST

    @WizardsLore, the bubble may not be bursting yet, but it will. Growth like China's is simply unsustainable, and sooner or later you run out of consumers to buy your products.

    Will it happen in 2012? Probably not. Will it happen? Most definitely.
     
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  3. WizardsLore avatar WizardsLore Posted: 2/27/2012 9:46pm PST

    only to a point Kurt. the Japanese market is sustainable on new cars because its jut not financially viable to own a car older than 5 years due to taxes, so they trade in (the cars are then sold along the pacific rim as grey imports). In China the well to do that can actually afford new cars, in the case Lambo's will trade in their Gallardo as soon as the new version is released. Its what they do !
     
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