Business / Motoring Opinion

Beijing auto show voices

(China Daily) Updated: 2014-04-28 06:36

STEPHAN WINKELMANN, president and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini SpA

We are glad to see that our customers in China are younger than those in Europe and America. Winning the young people means that we have a better opportunity to develop and consolidate long-term brand loyalty.

China's super sports car market has grown steadily and is expected to keep the momentum in the years to come. China is Lamborghini's second-largest single market, so it's crucial for the brand's global development.

We are even more optimistic about our development here with the introduction of the Huracan, the update of our best-selling Gallardo.

Since its debut earlier this year, we have received more than 1,500 orders from buyers worldwide. I believe the Huracan can surpass the achievement made by the Gallardo. It's likely to break Gallardo's 2008 sales record of 1,844 units next year.

Lamborghini now has more than 20 authorized dealers on the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong and Macao, which can effectively meet the demands of Chinese consumers. So there will be no substantial growth in dealer numbers in the near future. Our major task is strengthening training for dealers to help them improve services and customer satisfaction.

We are a luxury brand so we highlight quality instead of sales volume.

In my view there are two types of automobiles－one for transport and the other for fulfilling people's dreams and aspirations. And Lamborghini belongs to the second category－we are a dream brand.

We will continue innovating based on our DNA as a super sports car. We will use new technologies but never compromise on performance and drivability. We will consider developing zero-emission cars in the future.

We notice that Chinese customers highlight design, performance and brand influence when they select super sports cars.

I hope all Chinese drivers－not only Lamborghini drivers－pay more attention to driving safety. We will offer more training for our drivers to improve driving skills.