Who's feeling the squeeze?
How five of the leading premium car-makers are holding up
FerrariProduction levels are similar to last year and the order book for the new California is claimed to run to 2011. ‘Ferrari occupies a much smaller, exclusive sector of the market catering to the really wealthy who are carrying on buying what they want, recession or no recession,’ said chief executive Amedeo Felisa, although he admitted order intake is being watched closely.
Rolls-Royce No production cutbacks planned and chief executive Tom Purves has insisted sales will top 1000 this year, little changed from 2007. ‘But we have highly flexible production and can adapt readily,’ he added.
BentleyProduction cut back to a three-day week; October production down 30 per cent. European sales in October running 40 per cent down on the same month last year.Aston MartinThe production boom fuelled by Aston’s cheapest model, the V8 Vantage, is now going sharply into reverse. Total output to end-September was almost double the 3153 of the same period in 2007, but dipped sharply in October. Euro-sales are now almost 25 per cent down.PorscheThe problems of high volume are now hitting home. Production is running 25 per cent down and European sales are a third lower and falling. But Porsche is the richest car maker in Europe, is well placed to ride out a recession and will benefit from the launch of the Panamera four-seater next year.
