Lamborghini considering ditching Russian partner over poor sales
06/19/2009, 11:35 AM
By Drew Johnson
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.
06/19, 12:00 PM
posted by:
bigs4610
not focused enough to sell overpriced cars in this economy?
tell me who can do that Steve
06/19, 12:11 PM
posted by:
mulletmaster
As a purveyor of luxury goods one would think they, Mercury, would not have picked the name of a mid-level auto brand from the United States.
06/19, 1:10 PM
posted by:
Borat
The biz will improve: look at price of oil, it is at $72 barrel. Commies will get their share of petro dollars; perhaps they will be frugal this time around and spend those on Lambo’s not invasions. Then again, we are talking facken commies…..
06/19, 1:31 PM
posted by:
TL
How does Lamborghini expect super-cars to sell in the bad economy? Plus, in the article, it stated that “Thanks to its harsh winters and underdeveloped roads, Russia isn’t exactly a hotbed for supercar sales.” I would be heartbroken to see a Lambo damaged by harsh conditions.
06/19, 4:07 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
So I guess you could say not many folks have been ‘Russian’ in to pick up a new Lambo?
Sorry, but it’s Friday and I just don’t care.
06/19, 7:39 PM
posted by:
AutoCritical
Oh my word! 13 cars?
That is a bit of a shock! To be honest, I don’t know much about Russia, but I would have thought it was a country that would have bought more than 13 Lambos!
06/20, 8:28 AM
posted by:
scratchy
@ Autocritical , i bet those 13 cars were bought by some 18 year olds to park them in front of their school. the real Russian mobsters , i mean businessmen buy their Lambos in Spain, Italy, France or other countries where they have their summer residences.
06/20, 12:23 PM
posted by:
AutoCritical
ahh, well that makes some sense!
07/02, 6:53 AM
posted by:
tooldogg
hehe, I don’t know much about other world, but it seems to me, that 50% of all world’s Bentleys are in Moscow.. that’s not just “bad economy”. bad economy is a myth, it’s alright here. but th roads are really awfull because of rapidly changing climate. It’s very sad to break cars like that by the roads…