KOLKATA: Last Sunday’s Ferrari California T crash on a freeway close to Kolkata can have an unintentional fallout. Businessman Shibaji Roy’s tragic death in the high-speed crash might bring to a screeching halt the buoyant sale of supercars in the town, fear sellers, who're bracing for a lull of no less than six to 8 months because the accident performs on possible customers’ minds.
Some sellers apprehend the affect could also be felt past Kolkata and affect sales negatively in other Indian cities as neatly no less than until technical main points of the accident emerge from the continuing probe.
The accident has sent jitters across markets in the country, says Dhiraj Jha, a sub-dealer of Ferrari and Lamborghini and an authorized Rolls Royce trader in Delhi who operates in the Kolkata marketplace. “There can be a drop in sale of supercars. I estimate the decline to be just about 60% this year. A big chunk of supercars are bought by means of wealthy dads for their sons and, now and again, daughters. After this accident, no dad will allow their youngsters close to an excellent automobile, leave by myself purchase one for them, no less than for a while,” he provides.
Around 13 new supercars had been bought in 2017 by means of customers in Kolkata, with value tags ranging between Rs 2 crore and Rs four crore. Porsche insiders say the business in Kolkata has been healthy, with the once a year turnover from super-car sales touching Rs 50 crore.
But the accident will trade all that, fear sellers and sub-dealers, who say they expect to fall way wanting the objective of marketing 20 supercars in Kolkata this year. “The crash is a big blow. The owners are virtually like a family in this phase. They are friends, they cross on drives together. When something like this happens with someone as common as Roy, it affects everybody. Right now, I might not need my son to get right into a supercar. That is the truth. Realistically, I might be happy if we can reach 40% of our target,” Amit Modi, co-owner of Machiner’s Paradise and trader of pre-owned supercars, mentioned.
Industry in wait-and-watch mode
Kolkata had only a handful of discreet super-car owners until five years ago, like Babi Nobis, Golam Momen and Somenath Roychoudhury, who didn't like flaunting their dream machines. But all that changed with the coming of Porsche in the town in 2012 because it exposed the rest of the city to fancy vehicles and a new breed of super-car customers emerged after 2013.
The town now has no less than 35 super-car owners, most of them first-generation businessmen who don't thoughts flashing their vehicles. They cross out on drives, inside the town overdue at evening or out of doors on highways on weekend mornings. “It brings you fast repute as a result of other people flock to the auto and inquire about the proprietor,” mentioned a businessman, who bought a super-car as an alternative of a space with a fancy deal with as a result of he wished to be observed in one.
Another proprietor bought one as a result of his pal had bought one. “The thrill of a experience in a super-car and the eye it attracts are intoxicating,” he mentioned.
But the sellers’ fears about crashing sales following a extensively reported super-car crash isn't a new phenomenon. Super-car crashes have quickly affected sales international. Super vehicles promote in small numbers and the entire consumers are high-net-worth clients; the standard reaction from this area of interest marketplace following an incident is to attend until the scare passes.
Companies that manufacture super vehicles have requested sellers and sub-dealers to refrain from making any commentary until the jitters brought about by means of the accident die down. Tushar Raj, advertising head at Big Boy Toyz, a certified pre-owned luxurious automobile dealership headquartered in Gurgaon, feels the bump, if any, can be transient. “Public memory is brief. Confidence can be restored if the probe displays that the accident wasn’t brought about by means of the auto. Ferrari makes powerful vehicles. Car enthusiasts know that,” he added. The firm plans to enter the Kolkata marketplace together with Hyderabad.
Some sellers apprehend the affect could also be felt past Kolkata and affect sales negatively in other Indian cities as neatly no less than until technical main points of the accident emerge from the continuing probe.
The accident has sent jitters across markets in the country, says Dhiraj Jha, a sub-dealer of Ferrari and Lamborghini and an authorized Rolls Royce trader in Delhi who operates in the Kolkata marketplace. “There can be a drop in sale of supercars. I estimate the decline to be just about 60% this year. A big chunk of supercars are bought by means of wealthy dads for their sons and, now and again, daughters. After this accident, no dad will allow their youngsters close to an excellent automobile, leave by myself purchase one for them, no less than for a while,” he provides.
Around 13 new supercars had been bought in 2017 by means of customers in Kolkata, with value tags ranging between Rs 2 crore and Rs four crore. Porsche insiders say the business in Kolkata has been healthy, with the once a year turnover from super-car sales touching Rs 50 crore.
But the accident will trade all that, fear sellers and sub-dealers, who say they expect to fall way wanting the objective of marketing 20 supercars in Kolkata this year. “The crash is a big blow. The owners are virtually like a family in this phase. They are friends, they cross on drives together. When something like this happens with someone as common as Roy, it affects everybody. Right now, I might not need my son to get right into a supercar. That is the truth. Realistically, I might be happy if we can reach 40% of our target,” Amit Modi, co-owner of Machiner’s Paradise and trader of pre-owned supercars, mentioned.
Industry in wait-and-watch mode
Kolkata had only a handful of discreet super-car owners until five years ago, like Babi Nobis, Golam Momen and Somenath Roychoudhury, who didn't like flaunting their dream machines. But all that changed with the coming of Porsche in the town in 2012 because it exposed the rest of the city to fancy vehicles and a new breed of super-car customers emerged after 2013.
The town now has no less than 35 super-car owners, most of them first-generation businessmen who don't thoughts flashing their vehicles. They cross out on drives, inside the town overdue at evening or out of doors on highways on weekend mornings. “It brings you fast repute as a result of other people flock to the auto and inquire about the proprietor,” mentioned a businessman, who bought a super-car as an alternative of a space with a fancy deal with as a result of he wished to be observed in one.
Another proprietor bought one as a result of his pal had bought one. “The thrill of a experience in a super-car and the eye it attracts are intoxicating,” he mentioned.
But the sellers’ fears about crashing sales following a extensively reported super-car crash isn't a new phenomenon. Super-car crashes have quickly affected sales international. Super vehicles promote in small numbers and the entire consumers are high-net-worth clients; the standard reaction from this area of interest marketplace following an incident is to attend until the scare passes.
Companies that manufacture super vehicles have requested sellers and sub-dealers to refrain from making any commentary until the jitters brought about by means of the accident die down. Tushar Raj, advertising head at Big Boy Toyz, a certified pre-owned luxurious automobile dealership headquartered in Gurgaon, feels the bump, if any, can be transient. “Public memory is brief. Confidence can be restored if the probe displays that the accident wasn’t brought about by means of the auto. Ferrari makes powerful vehicles. Car enthusiasts know that,” he added. The firm plans to enter the Kolkata marketplace together with Hyderabad.
Ferrari crash may slam brakes on supercar sale
![Ferrari crash may slam brakes on supercar sale]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
June 10, 2018
Rating:
