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TOP SOUTH AFRICAN MODEL PRESENTS THE MASERATI RANGE TO THE WORLD
Legendary Italian car maker, Maserati has chosen top South African model Genevieve Morton to present its range in the 2015 brochures for its model range and to feature in a worldwide social media campaign.
The 26 year old model is the first South African to appear in the renowned Sports Illustrated America swimsuit issue, something she has achieved five times, most recently this year in the Virgin Islands.
Genevieve has completed a major photo shoot for Maserati featuring its entire range, the new Ghibli sports sedan and the luxurious flagship Maserati Quattroporte as well as Maserati sports cars, the Maserati GranTurismo and open top four seat Maserati GranCabrio. The photo shoots took place in a wide range of situations and venues to illustrate the style, performance, elegance and exclusivity of the Maserati range.
Maserati is using the pictures with Genevieve for the re-launch of its global brochure range and marks the arrival a new corporate image for its leading client communication products.
To maximize the launch of the brochures, which will be in both hard copy and digital forms, Maserati has also turned to social media with four different ‘behind-the-scenes’ videos of Genevieve at work during the shoots. A special set of five pictures of Genevieve and key Maserati models will also only be available through her social media sites in coming months.
Genevieve will bring her two million Facebook fans, 108,000 Instagram followers and 57,000 Twitter readers to the Maserati social media campaign, joining Maserati’s four million people on Facebook, 361,000 on Instagram and 450,000 Twitter members.
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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 75,000 units annually and gaining a significantly strengthened presence in the global luxury car market.
Sales figures for 2014 show that worldwide Maserati sold approximately 36,500 cars worldwide, an increase of 136% compared to 2013 and almost 6 times the sales figure for 2012.23,500 Ghiblis were delivered to the network, while the figure for the Quattroporte was 9,500 units. The total was completed by 3,500 units of the GranTurismo and GranCabrio models.
The American market, with 14,690 units and growth of 110% compared to 2013, confirmed its status as Maserati’s biggest market in 2014, with sales boosted by the Ghibli and Quattroporte versions equipped with the 410 HP Twin Turbo engine and Q4 all-wheel drive.The second largest market in terms of volume was China, with 9,400 units and growth of 148% compared to 2013; the best-selling Quattroporte and Ghibli versions were those with 330 HP Twin Turbo engine and rear-wheel drive.
In spite of the widespread economic instability, Europe also recorded a large rise of 153% compared to 2013, with no fewer than 6,360 units sold. The market leading Quattroporte and Ghibli versions were the rear wheel drive versions with the 275 HP V6 Turbo Diesel engine. Performance in the Asia-Pacific area (excluding China) was excellent, with 4,000 units, representing a 206% increase over 2013, including a 199.3% increase in the Australian market.The results achieved in the Middle East were also very impressive, with 2,050 units sold and a growth of 144% compared to 2013.
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 Glen 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 2014 new additional dealerships opened in Sydney and Melbourne with another dealership set to open 2015 to serve the Queensland market
EAI has consistently grown Maserati sales in Australia and New Zealand with its annual best in 2014 when total sales for the year were greater than the three previous years combined. In Australia sales rose 199.3 per cent to 401 vehicles for the year. In New Zealand sales climbed 400 per cent over the previous year with 70 new Maseratis delivered.
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_543
Date of release: 10/6/2018 4:53:32 PM