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Maserati OWNERS DRIVING FROM CHINA TO ITALY TO CELEBRATE MASERATI’S CENTENARY reach europe – just 4,514 km to go!
The team of Chinese Maserati owners driving from China to Italy so that they may participate the Maserati Centennial Gathering later this month has entered Europe, but the fleet of Quattroportes, Ghiblis and GranTurismos still has more than 4,514 km to go before they reach Maserati’s home town of Modena for the Centenary celebrations.
The point of symbolically crossing from Asia into Europe took place at Yekaterinburg in Russia, the official border between the two continents. By then the "China - Italy Centennial Rally" had completed two thirds of the journey, through China, Mongolia and Russia, with road conditions ranging from freeways, to dirt and mud roads and driving through deserts, climbing mountains, crossing the Siberian Steppes, straddlingLake Baikal. Weather conditions have ranged from desert heat to wind storms and rain. But through it all, the Maseratis have proven reliable and unperturbed by all the conditions thrown at them.
From Yekaterinburg the Maserati team will continue to Moscow, through Belarus and Poland with the final approach to Italy through the Czech Republic and Austria with a complete distance of 12,000 km in a planned 35 days.
The event started with a ceremony at the grand Imperial Ancestral Temple with 82 Maseratis, representing the entire Maserati range, forming the figure “100". The temple in Beijing is an historic site in the heart of the city, near the Forbidden City, and was a place of worship used during the Ming and Qing dynasties for ceremonies on the most important occasions to honor the imperial family’s ancestors.
Maserati’s entire line-up – Quattroporte, Ghibli, GranTurismo, and GranCabrio – was on display together with classic models to tell the story of Maserati's 100-year history and the brand’s unique legacy.
In 1914 the Maserati brothers established the Maserati company. In 2014, Maserati celebrates the brand's centenary with a series of exciting events around the world. The three-day rally from Modena to Turin from September 18 to 20 will be the climax of the celebrations. During that time, the small town of Modena will become a global focus and hundreds of Maserati owners from around the world will get together for a grand three-day celebration.
The Maserati "China - Italy Centennial Rally" is not only a tribute to the global centennial celebrations; it also marks Maserati’s tenth anniversary in China. The Chinese market plays a significant role in Maserati’s growth and will play a key role in the second century of Maserati's successful development.
Sponsors for this rally include GAC Fiat Freemont, responsible for providing support vehicles all route, IVECO that will provide the service vehicles with its New Daily, Shell Helix Ultra, appointed sponsor for lubrication oil, and Pirelli P Zero, official tyre sponsor.
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About Maserati SpA
Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer which was established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna (Italy) by its founder Alfieri Maserati and his brothers. Their passion and talent contributed to the company DNA: innovation, excellence, and challenge, which are reflected in the brand’s claim “The absolute opposite of ordinary”. Today, the company's headquarters and main production location are in Modena (Italy). A second state-of-the-art production location, based on the highest quality standards of the World Class Manufacturing (WCM) concept, was inaugurated in Grugliasco, near Turin (Italy), in 2013. Maserati has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993.
Its emblem, the trident, was inspired by the fountain on the Piazza del Nettuno in the center of Bologna (Italy). It is a symbol that ties together the brothers, their hometown, and the artistry and craftsmanship for which Bologna and Emilia-Romagna are known.
Through major investments into product development, production facilities as well as its worldwide dealer network, Maserati has hit a turning point. In addition to the successful GranTurismo and GranCabrio ranges, the latest generation of Maserati’s flagship sedan, the Quattroporte, and the new sports executive sedan, the Ghibli, provide the cornerstones to the brand’s strategy of producing some 50,000 units annually and gaining a significantly strengthened presence in the global luxury car market.
For 2013, Maserati posted a 148% increase in shipments to 15,400 vehicles, driven by the success of the new Quattroporte and Ghibli models. Its major markets include the USA (2013: 6,900, plus 138%), China (2013: 3,800, plus 334%), Europe (2013: 2,500, plus 133%) as well as Asia-Pacific (2013: 1,300, plus 52%) and the Middle East (2013: 750, plus 81%). For 2013, the company posted revenue of €1,659 million (plus 120%) and a trading profit €171 million (plus €114 million).
About European Automotive Imports
European Automotive Imports (EAI), trading as Maserati Australia and New Zealand, was appointed as the distributor of Maserati, its products and services in Australia and New Zealand in 2005, starting operations on 1 October that year, initially from offices in the Sydney suburb of Homebush before moving, in 2010 to its present offices in Waterloo. The company also took over the New South Wales retail Maserati representation from 1 October 2005, initially as Italia Motori until the completion of the new facility in Waterloo as both home to EAI and the new dealership, Ferrari Maserati Sydney, which opened its doors in 2010. From 2013 EAI has also controlled the Maserati retail outlet ‘Maserati Auckland’ in New Zealand. In addition to offices for EAI Maserati dedicated showroom and workshop facilities, the Waterloo facility also provides a state of the art training facility for both technical and sales training. EAI has a fully computerised parts facility in Sydney to ensure fast and efficient distribution of parts and accessories.
EAI is a private company wholly owned by its Executive Chairman, Neville Crichton, and it is not a subsidiary of any of Mr Crichton’s other companies. Maserati Australia and New Zealand is headed by Glenn Sealey, who took over as General Manager in 2010, and who has overseen a doubling of team responsible for Maserati in Australia and New Zealand. These include Bilgen Tug, National Marketing and Public Relations Manager; David Weihen, National Aftersales Manager; Alex Ball, National Sales Manager and Angelo Ruberto, General Manager of Ferrari Maserati Sydney.
Following its appointment, EAI set about a major renewal of its dealer group, with all-new dealerships opening in Brisbane (2006), Melbourne (2008), Perth (2008), Sydney (2010), Adelaide (2013) and Auckland (2013) with major refurbishments in Sydney, Adelaide and Auckland prior to new facilities opening. In addition, Christchurch opened initially as a Maserati service centre bringing the marque officially to the South Island of New Zealand in 2008 and this was expanded to a full dealership in 2013. In Maserati’s centenary year these dealerships will be joined by a second dealership each in Sydney and Melbourne to serve the growing customer base and, in 2016, another dealership in Queensland.
EAI has consistently grown Maserati sales in Australia with its annual best in 2008 with a total of 201 units, a record which is set to be broken in 2014 with sales expected to exceed 300 units. With arrival of new products, EAI plans to take Maserati to an annual sales figure of 1500 by 2016.
For further information, please contact
Glen Sealey
/ Tel: +61 2 8577 8070General Manager / Fax: +61 2 8577 8079
Maserati Australia and New Zealand / E:
Release Number: Maserati_472
Date of release: 10/24/2018 1:16:26 PM