Ex-chairman Ferrari Luca di Montezemolo’s departure has only been announced two days ago, and his replacement, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne, immediately confirmed that production at the factory will be increased in the future. This immediate announcement, probably, shows one of the main points the gentlemen disagreed about. Di Montezemolo wanted to keep production around the 7 000 mark to reserve a level of exclusivity.
According to Marchionne, the global market of super-wealthy customers are growing, and Bloomberg reports that he said he plans “to gradually increase production of vehicles like the $1.3 million LaFerrari to keep pace with the growing number of wealthy consumers”. We wonder how that would make current LaFerrari owners feel.
It is quite clear, especially if you look at the video above of di Montezemolo, that the flotation of the FCA Group played a roll in his departure. Once a company is listed, it needs to report to its shareholders, and there will clearly (sadly?) not be any place for the level of exclusivity that di Montezemolo had in mind.