Russia has not historically been one of Lamborghini ’s biggest markets, but the Italian automaker is threatening to pull its partnership with Mercury – Lamborghini’s Russian distributor – if sales do not improve in the coming months.
Mercury – a well know distributor of luxury goods in Russia – has been Lamborghini’s Russian partner for the last four years, but slumping sales have forced Lamborghini to reevaluate its Russian coverage. Mercury blames the sales decline on the weakening economy, but Lamborghini says Mercury’s overall strategy is flawed – particularly in the customer relations department.
“Mercury is not focused enough,” Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann told Reuters.
Mercury’s leadership was caught off guard by the notice. “We do all the necessary things that dealers need to do,” Alexander Reebok, general manager of Mercury, said in response to Winkelmann’s comments. “We are surprised by their decision.” Mercury also sells Ferrari , Maserati and Bentley vehicles, according to Automotive News.
Thanks to its harsh winters and underdeveloped roads, Russia isn’t exactly a hotbed for supercar sales. Lamborghini sold just 13 cars in Russia in 2008, down from 16 a year earlier. In 2005, Lamborghini’s first year with Mercury, the Italian automaker sold 2 cars in Russia. Lamborghini didn’t make public its Russian sales so far this year.
