Maserati Ghibli attracts new buyers in Saudi Arabia

• When MASERATI launched the new Ghibli in Saudi Arabia recently, it marked a turning point in Maserati’s history overall and in Saudi Arabia, giving the Italian marque two concurrent four-door sedan models for the first time in its 100-year history. The launch was overseen by Maserati importers Fast Auto Technic. Commenting on the unveiling of the new model, Mohammed Wajih Sharbatly, CEO of Fast Auto Technic, said: “With the Ghibli we are able to reach new customers not previously addressed by the Maserati range. The Ghibli is a true Maserati: it combines performance, handling, luxury, and Italian design with affordability and usability. And the car will be offered starting from SR. 290,000.”
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• The headquarters of the newly merged FIAT CHRYSLER Automobiles will move to London, CEO Sergio Marchionne said this week, cementing a politically sensitive shift away from Italy, Fiat’s home for the past 115 years. Fiat currently is based in Turin while Chrysler is headquartered in Auburn Hills, outside of Detroit. “Headquarters will be in London,” Marchionne said during a press conference at Chrysler’s headquarters. “It’s clear that group executive functions, the board, my office, some of my functions, need to operate out of London, but that doesn’t mean that I’m giving up my operational responsibilities of the US We will be multifaceted.”
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• FORD CEO Alan Mulally has “no regrets” about his eight years leading the automaker’s turnaround. He gave a vote of confidence to his successor in his last annual meeting at Ford. “I’ll always be very pleased and very proud and no regrets,” Mulally said after the automaker’s annual meeting. “I have all the confidence in the world that the leadership team, the management system and the strategy is solid. This is a Ford that’s absolutely ready to go soaring and Mark is going to be a fantastic leader.” Mulally, 68, said recently that he plans to retire on July 1, six months earlier than planned, to make way for his successor, Mark Fields, Ford’s COO, who also attended the meeting.
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• A rebound in Europe helped to boost net income at NISSAN by five percent in the January-March quarter. Surging North American operating profit also fueled the company’s earnings. Net income increased to 114.9 billion yen ($1.12 billion) in the company’s fiscal fourth quarter, from 109.7 billion yen ($1.07 billion) a year earlier, the company said today. Revenue gained 21 percent to 3.20 trillion yen ($31.13 billion), from a year earlier, as worldwide sales advanced 18 percent to 1.52 million vehicles.
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• The ROLLS-ROYCE Phantom Drophead Coupe Waterspeed Collection has been previewed this week to selected UK press and customers at an exclusive event on the site of the original Bluebird Motor Company — now the Bluebird Restaurant – on the King’s Road, London. The Bluebird Motor Company building was commissioned in 1923 to be Europe’s largest garage and was built in the era’s characteristic Art Deco style, a style which it preserves today. The business would ultimately help fund Campbell’s pursuit to wrest the Waterspeed record from its American holders. The car will then head to the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa D’Este on the shores of one of Italy’s Lake Como, where it will be unveiled to the public for the first time. It was on the adjacent Lake Maggiore where, on September 1 1937, Campbell established his legend, setting a world-record speed of 126.33 mph in the famous Bluebird K3 boat powered by a Rolls-Royce R Engine.