Maserati Financial Services, the new captive finance unit recently launched by Maserati North America Inc. and CNH Capital America LLC, celebrated the first deal booked by a Maserati dealer through MFS at Lake Forest Sportcars on Friday.

Maserati Financial Services (MFS) was announced as the new captive finance company for Maserati dealers throughout the United States at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Through MFS, dealers can now offer innovative lease and finance solutions designed exclusively for Maserati customers.

"We're thrilled to honour the first transaction through MFS. Our goal is to provide Maserati dealers with the best possible financing solutions," said Steve Bierman, President, Maserati Financial Services. "This includes more flexibility and the ability for Maserati customers to choose a plan that best fits their needs. Maserati serves an important segment of the auto market for our parent company, Fiat SpA, and we are uniquely positioned to help them as their line of luxury vehicles grows in sales."

Rick Mancuso, proprietor of Lake Forest Sportcars, a premiere Midwest dealer for the Fiat family of brands, believes having an in house captive finance unit will help streamline sales processes and make the customers' experience commensurate with the Maserati brand. "With MFS and the new Maserati product range, we now have the strong financial partner and the right product to help us get an edge on our competition and capture the sales increase we've been looking for," Mancuso said. "MFS will help us close more deals because of the convenience and ease of access to state of the art financing solutions."

MFS allows dealers nationwide to run a one-stop-shop for customers. "Before MFS, if customers were interested in financing, we'd have to stop the deal and ask our customers to wait until after we contact the banks," Mancuso said. "That's not what the Maserati experience is about. We have a lust factor for our cars. Maserati serves an important segment of the auto market and its customers deserve a buying experience designed exclusively around their needs. MFS is enhancing the customer experience and in turn will help us sell more cars."
 

MFS was made available to Maserati dealers nationwide in November 2006 and today has 100% dealer participation. MFS currently offers retail financing for up to 84 months on new Maseratis and up to 72 months on pre-owned Maseratis. Additionally, MFS will offer flexible lease terms of
up to 60 months for all new Maseratis. "MFS has enabled our dealers to provide their customers with a dedicated source of financial services commensurate with the Maserati
brand," said James Selwa, President, Maserati North America. "By providing our customers with more innovative lease and finance solutions and giving them the buying experience they deserve, we are helping strengthen their relationship with the brand."

Maserati North America

Maserati North America is led by President and CEO James Selwa and is headquartered in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. North America represents roughly 40% of Maserati's total volume. Success in the United States is mirrored globally by Maserati now present in 58 countries on five continents with an overall network of over 259 dealerships. In the main global markets, Maserati directly controls its subsidiaries, including a joint venture in China.

CNH Capital

CNH Capital, the financial services business of CNH Global N.V., offers a comprehensive range of services, including wholesale and retail financing, leasing, insurance, asset management, and revolving lines of credit, for the global marketplace. Building on nearly 50 years' experience in the equipment finance industry, CNH Capital services a portfolio of more than US$13 billion, helping customers through various wholly owned subsidiaries and joint ventures throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and Australia.