MASERATI Australia has been well-primed to boost the number of its local dealerships by almost one-third within the next 12 months thanks to the expected popularity of its Levante SUV, with an announcement imminent for a Gold Coast expansion and research under way for Canberra and Hobart outlets.

Speaking with GoAutoNews Premium at the national media launch of the Levante in northern New South Wales this week, Maserati Australia chief operating officer, Glen Sealey, explained that the company expects to double its volume this year and this would pave the way for an increased number of dealers; including one that would complement the existing Brisbane outlet.

“We’re looking to extend the Willims Motor Group in Brisbane and give them a second site on the Gold Coast. I wouldn’t say it’s 100 per cent locked in but we’re almost there,” he confirmed.

“We’ve always pondered (about) the Gold Coast. The call was made at the end of last year (and) we should see that in the third quarter of this year.”

Mr Sealey said that beyond the Gold Coast dealership addition – the eighth dealer for the brand nationwide – the next line of expansion would depend on how the company thought its all-wheel drive SUV would be used by owners compared with the existing two-door and four-door range, would be a key consideration.

“We’re currently looking at, what I would call, service opportunities given that (with Levante) our vehicles will now venture outside the metropolitan area,” he explained.

“When you look at our existing range with Ghibli, Quattroporte and Gran Turismo, it is very metro centric, with not too much travel.”

This new dynamic brought cities such as Canberra and Hobart into consideration, not only for their potential customer base but potentially more so for their close proximity to rural areas. Mr Sealey said a discussion was being had internally about whether a service-only outlet or sales and service centre was required in such locations.

He said the Gold Coast facility would not only service its immediate area in this market but down to northern New South Wales as well.

“In centres like Canberra and Hobart … we’re looking at whether we do (complete) dealerships or a full-service facility in these areas. There may be (only) demand for a full-service facility.

“We have a few customers (in Tasmania) at the moment who are transferring their cars over the border to Melbourne for servicing. So we need to look after those customers. And Canberra is about looking after customers on their way down to the snow, and the diplomatic market that exists there.

“I think there is an opportunity for used cars in both (Canberra and Hobart) as well. There is no doubt that the Maserati brand does attract a certain clientele, whether that be new or used. A dealer can work with the used-car department, if it’s working quite well.”

Asked what a potential dealership expansion could look like by the end of 2018, Mr Sealey replied: “Putting on Gold Coast will add one more (dealer), and if we then do Canberra and Hobart that will be another two, (so) it could be 10 dealers within the next year.”

However, the COO also cautioned that the brand would not otherwise engage in a rapid expansion of dealerships despite the expected success of the Levante premium large SUV arriving locally this month.

“We’re conscious that to do a Maserati dealership is not cheap,” Mr Sealey added.

“The tiles must be as they should be, the furniture needs to come from Italy, the design needs to be as per the Maserati design everywhere. If it doesn’t pay, we don’t do it.

“Dealer profitability is a key outcome for us. Profitable dealers are good dealers, a profitable brand is a good brand, we need profitable dealers and … right now we’re seeing that.”

This week a renewed Barbagallo’s Maserati dealership will open to the public in Perth, while the COO confirmed that a Sydney City overhaul was under way, the McCarroll’s Sydney North Shore dealership in Artarmon was complete alongside a larger service department in nearby Roseville; and both Melbourne and Brisbane were likewise refurbished.

Last year Maserati sold 483 vehicles in Australia, down 6.9 per cent compared with a record 2015 that saw 519 vehicles leave showrooms; thanks primarily to the launch of the Ghibli large sedan that nabbed 345 sales.

That model fell by 4.3 per cent in 2016 to 330 units and Maserati Australia is expecting that number to further decline this year as buyers switch to the Levante that has already accumulated 220 sales before it has gone on sale.

The brand is anticipating between 500 and 600 sales for its first SUV to, by itself, potentially eclipse total Maserati volume for each of the previous two years, on the way to a record 900-unit haul overall.

Last year, the elderly Gran Turismo/Gran Cabrio fell 27.8 per cent to 83 sales, while the Quattroporte upper-large sedan increased by 6.8 per cent to 63 units, and with no revisions planned for these models in 2017, no further gains would be expected.

By Daniel DeGasperi