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The
International media test drive dedicated to
the Ferrari California 30 finished this
week. 30 as in the 30 kilogramme reduction
in weight and the 30 horsepower increase
that, together, ensure that the Ferrari
California, Ferrari’s most commercially
successful model since launch, benefits from
an even more favourable weight-to-power
ratio. Around 100 journalists travelled to
Maranello from all over the world to drive
the car which features these and other
significant improvements that were announced
at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
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The
Board of Directors of Ferrari S.p.A. met under the
chairmanship of Luca di Montezemolo to examine the
company’s accounts for the first quarter of 2012.
For the first quarter of the year Ferrari has seen
revenues rise
to 556.1 million euro (+13.2 per cent) while 1,733
cars were delivered
to the dealership network, an increase of 11.5 per cent
on the same period last year.
These results are the fruit of the success of the
12-cylinder FF and the continuing popularity of the
8-cylinder models, most notably the Ferrari California,
which is the company’s best-selling GT, and the coupé
and spider versions of the 458 which top the sports car
segment.
One hundred per cent of Ferraris are personalised by
their owners who, since the start of 2012, have also
been able to avail of the innovative Tailor Made
programme, which allows each client to tailor their own
bespoke car using an extensive variety of unique and
exclusive materials, colours and finishes, with the
assistance of a specialist team.
The F12berlinetta, the most powerful and high
performance Prancing Horse car ever built and the first
in a new generation of V12s, made no contribution to
these results as deliveries will not commence until the
second part of the year.
Trading profit
grew by 13.4 per cent to 60.5 million euro, while
net profits
rose by 17.2 per cent (42.1 million euro). Ferrari’s
industrial net cash
position on March 31st was the strongest in its
history at 860 million euro. This was achieved despite
keeping product investment extremely high and thanks to
a net cash flow
for the first quarter of 152 million euro.
The one-make series of the Prancing Horse, the
Ferrari Challenge,
is also proving to be successful with the 2012 racing
season starting with 100 458 Challenge cars on the
tracks in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
In terms of sales, the US remains Ferrari’s most
important market recording growth of 16 per cent even
after the excellent figures recorded in 2011. Sales in
Europe were also positive with excellent results in the
United Kingdom (+31 per cent, 177 cars delivered) and in
Germany (up 24 per cent). Italy is the exception to this
trend with sales of 121 cars, down 65 compared to the
first quarter 2011 as a result of the economic situation
and the local government’s recent financial initiatives.
In the Far East, after a record 2011, the Greater China
market (China, Hong Kong and Taiwan) continued to grow
with 154 cars delivered in the first quarter. On May
18th, a major new Ferrari exhibition will open at the
Shanghai Expo in China where a 1,000 square metre space
will host some of our most iconic road models as well as
Formula 1 cars. The display will also feature simulators
and interactive points where visitors can learn about
Ferrari’s history and the Maranello campus. The Middle
East saw sales up in the first quarter up by 23 per cent
and 81 cars delivered.
“After an extraordinary 2011, starting the year with all
the economic indicators on the rise is very satisfying
indeed,” declared Ferrari’s Chairman, Luca di
Montezemolo. “We have a complete new model range
brimming with technological innovations, and which
deliver significant reductions in fuel consumption and
emissions, down by 30 per cent on average.” He
continued: “At the end of the year, we’ll also be
unveiling the new Enzo, a limited series model and our
first ever hybrid car.”
Brand activities (retail, wholesale, licensing and
e-commerce) are up by 10 per cent overall: there are now
50 Ferrari Stores worldwide, including a new store in
Madrid which opens officially at the end of May. Ferrari
also retains its leadership in
online activities
with over 8 million friends on Facebook and almost one
million on Google +.
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