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Racing cars for Germany to be built by VW in Kariega
South Africa is exporting one of its most successful racing formulas to Germany.
- Industry News
- 7 February 2025
Despite tough economic times, Ferrari can’t keep up with demand for its iconic luxury vehicle.
Ferrari's order books are bulging all the way into 2025 when it plans to launch its first fully electric vehicle, the luxury sports car maker said recently as it raised its earnings forecast for this year.
Core profit in the third quarter beat estimates, driven by pricing power and the continuing appeal of personalised additions to its cars.
"The order book remains at a highest level reflecting strong demand across all geographies, covering the entire 2025," according to Chief Executive, Benedetto Vigna.
Benedetto told analysts all Ferrari models bar one were effectively sold out for the coming months.
His tone was markedly more bullish than German rival Porsche, which warned in the previous week that the luxury sector was feeling the effects of consumer caution as interest rates rise.
Vigna confirmed that Ferrari, famous for its high-performance petrol cars, was on track to launch its first fully electric vehicle in the last quarter of 2025.
The vehicle is currently in the prototype phase, and the new "ebuilding" where it will be constructed at the company's home in Maranello, northern Italy, is due to open next June.
Ferrari shares were up 5.2% at 1530 GMT and have gained almost 50% so far this year, according to LSEG data.
"With a new production facility, a potential hyper car, and a BEV (electric) model expected to arrive within the next 24 months, investors see Ferrari as moving into another exciting phase of the company's history," Bernstein analysts said in a note.
Deliveries in the quarter were driven by the 296 and the SF90 families, while the 812 Competizione A and the Purosangue four-seater were in ramp-up phase. The F8 Spider was approaching the end of its life cycle.
The product portfolio in the quarter included nine internal combustion engine models and four hybrid engine models. Hybrid deliveries reached 51% of total shipments in the quarter.
The company now expects its adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to reach at least R43.6 billion (2.25 billion euros) this year, versus a previous - and already improved - forecast of R42.8 billion to R43.4 billion (2.19 to 2.22 billion euros).
Volkswagen has added two new derivatives to its T-Cross line-up for the 2025 model year. The T-Cross has been the best-selling Volkswagen SUV with over 36 000 cars sold since its launch in 2019.
Volkswagen found a gap in it SUV line-up between the range-topping Touareg and the Tiguan and will fill it with its new Tayron set to arrive locally in the second half of 2025 when pricing and engine specifications will be announced. The Tayron will launch with two equipment lines - Life and R-Line.
If you think Golf in South Africa, you think GTI or even the quicker Golf R. Volkswagen, however, has just introduced a new entry-level Golf consisting of four models slotting in below its twin performance siblings.