Chinese Won't Let 40 Luxury Cars Go Back Home
As the Beijing motor show draws to an end on Monday, the cars on display will be rolled on car carriers and shipped back home. All except for 40 luxury cars with a combined value of $22m. They have been snapped-up at the show, they will remain in China, and their makers can save the money for the long trip home.
The most expensive car of the show, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, with a price tag of $5.6m was “snagged on the first day,” says China Daily. According to the paper, “the car is exceptionally rare, with only 300 available worldwide, and it sells for 2.65 million Euros in Europe.” That comes out to $3.5m MSRP in Europe. Mark-up, title and taxes in China must be considerable.
The car will actually go back to France first, where it will be “revamped” before it will be shipped back to the customer in China.
Maserati sold five of the six cars on display at the show. “Another 10 will be delivered in six to eight weeks, after the cars are customized to the customers’ requirements,” said Gao Mengxiong, Maserati China’s sales manager. Compared to the Veyron, they are a bargain. Each car sells for about $366,000. Maserati wrote sales of about $5.4m. That should have paid for the booth.
At Rolls-Royce, a representative said: “We are going to get big orders at this auto show, based on my former experiences.” One customer bought the Rolls-Royce Ghost on display. According to stories circulating in Beijing, the buyer was a 20 year old girl.
Except for three cars that were brought for display purposes only, Porsche sold all eight cars at the show within the first three days. The most expensive one sold for more than $290,000.
When the show closes, organizers expect a total of 800,000 visitors. On Saturday, the start of the three-day Labor Day holiday, 145,900 people mobbed the show. According to China Daily, “more than 2,100 car-makers from around the world” demonstrated their technologies and products at the show. And here we were told that the world only has room for less than 10 auto makers.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
More by Bertel Schmitt
Comments
Join the conversation
Funny that none of the above comments considered the possibility that this 20-yr old woman could have been successful on her own and have an appreciation for fine cars. It is rare that any person of any gender, race, etc, is this successful at this early an age, but it does happen. The enterprise zones in China are a goldmine for entrepreneurs. She doesn't necessarily have to be daddy's little girl or a whore.
Replying to the 20yr old girl comment... My wife and I had this discussion recently.. I was sitting at a Mcds when a red fully tinted G8 GT pulls in.. and automatically.. i begin to debate.. the driver. I fully suspect its some built dude.. And out pops.. a woman, who is pregnant. NOW.. I proceeded to get a raft of shit.. because I believe the car is a guy's car. I proceeded to go on: A chic doesn't just go out.. and buy a G8, and definitely not the GT That is a car specifically designed to be driven and or thrashed. Its probably her husbands car.. She could have driven a Malibu, an Accord, a 300, a Taurus, a Crown Vic.. doesn't upon dozens of cars avail on the market. The est retail price of the car was in the 30s, but with the V8 and the power its got.. its screams guy car. Just like this R.R. She thinks shes hot shit.. while driving a Roller. Maybe she is impersonating 5-10yr old American TV, with luxo cars and rappers, or maybe its Daddy's attempt at pacifying his little girl.. and making her happy. As for what sells in China.. Im slowly moving to the fact of .. not being amazed. All I can say is Must suck to sit in traffic.. in a GT3 RS, next to a Roller, a 7il, a Stretch E, Veyron.. etc etc etc. And they say out whole society isn't about consuming...