Automobili Lamborghini are all set to open their first Brazilian outlet as they continue with an ambitious drive to take their global authorised dealership and outlet numbers up to the 100 threshold by the end of this year, building on a rapid recent expansion that has seen their dealership numbers rising from 68 to 88 during the first half of 2006. Penetrating the South American market will see the Bologna-based sportscar manufacturer following in the footsteps of its Italian domestic rivals Ferrari and Maserati, both of whom have begun a major expansion programme in this region.

Expanding the "Raging Bull" brand into the untapped new emerging car markets is a central strategy plank of Automobili Lamborghini President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann. Already during 2006 Lamborghini has gained a presence in several exciting new car markets, including Russia earlier this year and India just last month, both following on from a move into China in 2004, running alongside a policy of improving their market exposure in its established markets, such as the UK where dealership numbers have recently doubled.

"At the end of 2006 our sales network will have grown to include 100 dealers," said Stephan Winkelmann recently. Sales in the brand's biggest established markets during the first half of this year have also risen significantly: they are up by a massive 68 percent year-on-year in the United States, and by 41.4 pct in Great Britain, 32.6 pct in Italy and 10.3 pct in Germany.
 

Widening its dealership network could see the Audi-owned Automobili Lamborghini brand top the 2,000 units sold in a year threshold for the first time as they have in fact delivered 952 units during the first six months of this year. "The forecast for 2006 is very positive. The deliveries in 2005 (1,600 cars) and the turnover of 243 million euros, can from today’s stand-point be superseded," said a buoyant Winkelmann on announcing half-year results earlier this month.

The first signs that Lamborghini were seeking to enter the Brazilian market came in October 2005 when a local entrepreneur opened up negotiations to gain import rights that would lead to an outlet being set up on the corner of Avenida Brigadeiro Luis Antonio and Avenida Brasil in the thriving city of São Paulo, and once talks were concluded, this building rapidly took shape, being completed in around seven months. The V12-engined Murciélago and V10-Gallardo models have both already arrived in the stylish, purpose-built new multi-floor building complex ready for the forthcoming inauguration of the facility, and local interest has reportedly been very high.

Photos: a007apl & raphaelws