Lamborghini puts local talent in driving seat to maintain market momentum

As Automobili Lamborghini prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, the Italian sports car manufacturer, which roared into China in 2005, is looking to boost sales by hiring a local general manager to spearhead operations in China.

The appointment comes at a time when the Chinese market is showing strong momentum, with sales in 2011 of 342 vehicles - a year-on-year growth of 70 percent, accounting for 20 percent of its global sales.

Automobili Lamborghini at the Beijing Auto Show in April. The luxury car maker's sales in China accounted for 20 percent of its global sales last year. [Photo / China Daily]

This was demonstrated with the first launch of a new model in China, the Urus SUV during the Beijing motor show, and now the luxury car maker has gone for local talent Liang Jian to head its advances in China.

Liang majored in international business at the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and obtained his master's in international marketing management from Leeds University in the United Kingdom.

Liang Jian is the first Chinese general manager of Automobili Lamborghini.

Before joining Lamborghini a couple of months ago, he was head of sales and marketing for the SCAS Investment Group in Shenzhen, working on behalf of car and yacht manufacturers until 2005, when he became regional sales director for Mercedes-Benz China.

Analysts say a Chinese face leading an overseas company can help it get closer to the Chinese nouveau riche who are eager to show off their wealth.

"I guess my biggest advantage is that I speak Chinese to my clients," says Liang, who grew up in Guangdong province. "So communication and management will be more efficient. And, of course, clients will be happy to see a Chinese general manager greeting them."

Liang says localization is essential for a car company, even for an international super-luxury brand.

During the Shenzhen auto show in June, Lamborghini launched its limited Gallardo LP560-4 Gold Edition, of which only 10 were made - exclusively for sale in China.

Other "local" customization includes red stitching on the seats, which Chinese people believe to be auspicious, and personal names embroidered on accessories. Liang says one female customer requested her car's color to be the same as her nail lacquer.

Localization requires a good knowledge of its customers, and Liang has amassed that from his 10 years in sales and marketing in the luxury car sector.

Chinese customers of luxury cars are generally five to eight years younger than customers in other countries, and mainly run businesses, Liang says.

"They have accumulated their wealth quickly because of the quick rise of the Chinese economy," Liang says. And they are very generous in rewarding themselves - especially the young entrepreneurs.

"And the young generation's indulgence affects the older generations. Sometimes the son will bring the father and introduce him to the sports car."

To get his hands on, say, a 6.5L Aventador LP700-4 model in China, dad will be looking at a price tag of 6.27 million yuan ($997,600, 766,800 euros). And if he decides to buy it, he will have to wait 18 months for delivery.