Glen Sealey

AUTOSPORTS Group Ltd has opened a Maserati dealership on the Gold Coast, its second for the brand after its existing Brisbane showroom.

The new dealership will be joined later this year by a Canberra outlet being completed by John McGrath Auto Group.

Autosports’ new showroom at Southport – which features a 325-square metre showroom, three-bay workshop and service centre, and customer facilities – represents a $15 million investment by the company.

It will bring the Maserati Australia dealer count to six in six states and territories, but Maserati Australia chief operating officer Glen Sealey told GoAutoNews Premium that more were being considered.

“Canberra and the Gold Coast mark the increase in sales volume,” he said.

“We certainly need some service accessibility on those sites. But it’s also about the brand becoming more accessible in provincial areas.

Scott Newland

“We would look at more coverage but we have to maintain premium representation. We are an exclusive brand and there can’t be a dealer in each town.”

Mr Sealey has previously flagged to GoAutoNews Premium the idea of having a Maserati dealership in Wellington – it already has one each in Christchurch and Auckland – and Hobart.

He said the new Gold Coast dealership had been designed, developed and prepared to meet Maserati’s global standards for customer service.

“This includes everything from a showroom equipped with the finest Italian furniture to a workshop fitted with state-of-the-art tools being used by technicians that are factory trained in the latest technology,” he said.

“But, even more than that, this new dealership offers a level of personalised, exclusive and focused customer service that is unrivalled and comes standard with every new Maserati.”

Maserati Gold Coast general manager Scott Newland said it had taken “a remarkable amount of planning and commitment by the team to deliver this project”.

“Our focus is to provide a new level of customer service on the Gold Coast, and one that matches the legendary history and products produced by Maserati,” he said.

Mr Sealey said the expansion of the Maserati retail outlets in Australia and New Zealand was matched to the brand’s global five-year plan.

“The plan is about investing in the products and the dealerships for the future,” he said at the launch last week of the latest Maserati, the Levante 350.

“There is a long way to go but the results are being seen. It will be an exciting time for Maserati and for Australia.”

He said the Levante SUV – the brand’s most popular model – was a three-year plan.

“We have launched the diesel and petrol Levante last year and this year it’s the 350,” he said.

“Next year will bring the flagship GTS. Later, there will be updates of existing models and the launch of the Alfieri coupe.”

Mr Sealey said Maserati was an exclusive brand “and we are a family so when you buy a Maserati, you buy into the Maserati family”