Avto Union Holding, part of Equest Investments Bulgaria, is set to bring under one dealership roof all Italian automotive brands it holds in its portfolio. The construction of the dealership, near the Sofia International Airport, recently got underway.

The 17 million euro outlet will house the showrooms and service centres for the  Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo and Maserati brands and the offices of their importers. The complex will also include a business park with lettable office premises. The complex, the first in a planned nation-wide chain, should open in the autumn of 2007.

Avto Union is part of Equest Investment Bulgaria. It's a holding company managing the importers of seven automotive and three scooter brands, as well as the provider of other automotive products and services in Bulgaria. Companies in the Avto Union structure include Auto Italia, which holds the sole distribution rights of Fiat and Lancia cars; Milano Motors with the sole importer rights of Alfa Romeo cars, Piaggio, Vespa and Gilera motorbikes; Gransport Auto - the official importer of Maserati cars; Star Motors, the exclusive importer of Mazda cars; and Bulvaria, the joint importer of Opel and Chevrolet cars for Bulgaria; Additionally Avto Union owns Motobul, and is the sole distributor of BP and Castrol lubricants for Bulgaria and AVIS Bulgaria, providing rent-a-car and fleet services. Auto Italia has new modern showroom by the side of hotel Expo on “Tzarigradsko shosse”,149, in Sofia as it embarks on a strategy of building Fiat and Lancia sales in Bulgaria.
 

Meanwhile at the beginning of 2005 Milano Motors opened a plush showroom in Sofia, designed in conjunction with Centro Stile Alfa Romeo. Avto Union's strategy includes structuring of business processes in the subsidiary companies, investment in improvement and development of their distribution networks, as well as maintaining strict "Chinese Walls" in between the marketing companies as per requirements of OEM companies.

Meanwhile, the first and only example of the Alfa GT Coupé "Sportiva" has recently arrived in Bulgaria. This limited edition automobile, which was purchased by Mr. Temov through “TBI Leasing” is distinguished from the rest of the Alfa GT model range by its special 17 inch aluminium wheels while the whole interior was been upgraded with great creativity. The interior features black leather, and the steering wheel has red stitches, the outside covers of the door mirrors are in chrome, while the logo is a slightly darkened and matted. The lights and the indicators are also darkened, and with this touch they add the "sportiva" look of the automobile. The pedals are also sporty – aluminium. This car - unique in Bulgaria - is equipped with the 165 bhp petrol engine, coupled to a Selespeed transmission, which is operated by small levers, situated on the steering wheel. Maximum speed is 216 km/h, while the dash from 0-100 km/h is achieved in 8.5 seconds.