Zagame Automotive has taken over the Ferrari Adelaide franchise, with more luxury brands on their way
Adelaide supercar fans are in for a treat with a Melbourne group taking over the local Ferrari franchise ahead of plans to open the city’s first Lamborghini and McLaren dealerships.
- Adelaide Motors to take on Ferrari dealership in Adelaide
- Taking a hot lap at The Bend Motorsport Park
- The Adelaide suburbs where Ferrari rules
LOVERS of luxury fast cars are in for a treat with a Melbourne group snapping up the Ferrari Adelaide franchise ahead of plans to open the city’s first Lamborghini and McLaren dealerships.
Zagame Automotive has taken over Ferrari Adelaide, in Hindley St, city, from previous operator Adelaide Motors.
While the company will continue to sell and service vehicles from the current showroom site, Zagame chief executive Michael Winkler said a “bricks-and-mortar” investment was on the radar.
“There are many supercar owners in the greater Adelaide area who seem to fly below the radar,” he said.
“But the supercar community here is strong and sophisticated, and we see a great opportunity, through Ferrari, to engage and grow the local supercar community.
“We’ll be looking to make further significant investment in Ferrari in Adelaide – a bricks-and-mortar investment – but that will be in 12 months or so.”
Zagame’s expansion into South Australia is its first foray outside Victoria, where it is the exclusive dealer for marques including Aston Martin, Ferrari, Maserati, McLaren, Lamborghini, Lotus, and Rolls-Royce.
Earlier this year, the company paid $6.3 million for the former Belcar showroom site on Glen Osmond Rd, Frewville, where it has undertaken a major redevelopment ahead of the launch of Adelaide’s first Lamborghini and McLaren showroom.
“We had an opportunity to bring other brands into Adelaide in the longer term,” Mr Winkler said.
“We’ll open up Lamborghini and McLaren – as the authorised sales and service dealer – but the official opening will not be until well into next year.”
Mr Winkler said Zagame would also look at opportunities to utilise The Bend motorsport park, after striking up a relationship with owners the Shahin family. Through its Zagame Autosport program, the company offers clients access to track-day events and training.
“The Shahin family is well known to Zagame Automotive Group management, and we all have a strong and healthy respect emanating from a shared passion in fast cars,” Mr Winkler said. “The Shahins are doers, and we love how they go about their business.
“We see an opportunity to do a lot with The Bend over time as our presence in Adelaide takes shape and grows.”
Ferrari Australasia chief executive Herbert Appleroth said SA remained one of the brand’s fastest-growing markets in the region since the opening of the Hindley St showroom in 2014.
“Ferrari has been the only supercar brand committed to SA in recent years and the market has grown on the strength and quality of the Ferrari experience,” he said.
Zagame will host a soft launch of its new Frewville facility on November 29 during the Adelaide Motorsport Festival.
Ferrari Adelaide brand manager Robert Stevens, who will continue to oversee the local sales and service centre, said new models were attracting strong local interest, including the Portofino which launched in Adelaide in July.
“It is the ultimate everyday Ferrari and it’s proving popular with a strong local order bank,” he said.