Photo: Ferrari
After a bit of amateur racing at the wheel of a Giannini Fiat 500 and a brief stint at Lancia HF Squadra Corse, Luca di Montezemolo joined Fiat S.p.A. and in 1973 became the assistant of Enzo Ferrari. Since 1991, he was promoted to Ferrari numero uno, but things might get sour for Montezemolo over a big disagreement with Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne.
According to a recent report published by Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera, Montezemolo is very close to exit the Ferrari stable because he clashed over brand strategy with big boy Sergio. If the report is indeed accurate, Montezemolo didn't share Marchionne's view on upping the Prancing Horse's yearly sales cap from an exclusive 7,000 units to 10,000 examples of the Maranello breed.
Despite Montezemolo's sales cap, the brand was and still is highly profitable for the Fiat Group. If you also add Maserati's sales numbers in the mix, then all the more reasons why the change brought in by Marchionne doesn't pay too much dividend for both Fiat S.p.A. and Ferrari. Some say ol' Sergio Americanized the Prancing Horse with this recent decision, but nevertheless, this dispute over a few thousand Ferraris turned lukewarm for the most important leading figure in recent Ferrari history.
Furthermore, the Maserati brand is planning to up its yearly sales from about 15,000 units to a hefty 75,000, turning from niche luxury manufacturer to semi-volume automaker. At the Italian Grand Prix, Montezemolo declared that he'll stick around at Ferrari for at least three more years, but his jolliness might change as soon as September 11th, when Ferrari's board will meet to review first-half results.
To put Montezemolo's work for the Ferrari brand into perspective, the Prancing Horse accounted for roughly 12 percent of Fiat S.p.A.'s operating profit in 2013, which is a huge percentage considering that Ferrari sold just over 7,000 cars last year, while the group moved some 4.4 million cars in total.
Despite Montezemolo's sales cap, the brand was and still is highly profitable for the Fiat Group. If you also add Maserati's sales numbers in the mix, then all the more reasons why the change brought in by Marchionne doesn't pay too much dividend for both Fiat S.p.A. and Ferrari. Some say ol' Sergio Americanized the Prancing Horse with this recent decision, but nevertheless, this dispute over a few thousand Ferraris turned lukewarm for the most important leading figure in recent Ferrari history.
Furthermore, the Maserati brand is planning to up its yearly sales from about 15,000 units to a hefty 75,000, turning from niche luxury manufacturer to semi-volume automaker. At the Italian Grand Prix, Montezemolo declared that he'll stick around at Ferrari for at least three more years, but his jolliness might change as soon as September 11th, when Ferrari's board will meet to review first-half results.
To put Montezemolo's work for the Ferrari brand into perspective, the Prancing Horse accounted for roughly 12 percent of Fiat S.p.A.'s operating profit in 2013, which is a huge percentage considering that Ferrari sold just over 7,000 cars last year, while the group moved some 4.4 million cars in total.
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