Michael Winkler

PRESTIGE Victorian dealer group Zagame Automotive’s new chief executive, Michael Winkler, says the business is in “growth mode” and actively looking for opportunities, including an expansion of its Ferrari franchise to a second showroom.

“There is nothing on the boil that I can specifically talk about, however, one thing is for sure from Bobby and the family, and that is the desire to expand operations from where it is at the moment,” he told GoAutoNews Premium.

Mr Winkler, back in Australia after two years heading Bentley’s operations in North and South America, is excited about the opportunities from the Zagame family’s premium dealer group and its associated motorsports division.

One of those opportunities were spelt out by Ferrari Australasia boss Herbert Appleroth, who said there would be a second Ferrari showroom in Melbourne and Sydney, and one in the Gold Coast.

“There is some discussion for another showroom in Melbourne and we are having those discussions now,” Mr Winkler said.

“We have some concrete ideas but we are still at the early stages. We will do something but it is a question of ironing out the fine details.”

Mr Appleroth said he planned to increase the number of Ferrari dealerships in Australia and New Zealand from five showrooms to nine by the end of 2018.

“We’re building new service facilities in South Island New Zealand, new showrooms – a second one in Sydney and Melbourne – and we’re currently evaluating who the partner will be on the Gold Coast,” he said.

Mr Appleroth did not name the new dealers but it is likely that existing franchise holders Zagame in Melbourne and McCarroll’s Automotive Group in Sydney will get the nod.

Zagame is also revisiting its motorsports division, Zagame Autosport. Mr Winkler said it has been “a 12-month experiment”.

“I think everyone has learnt a lot about what is possible and what is not possible in that sphere,” he said.

“Motorsport is interesting. Lotus and Ferrari are really the two brands that inspired why we went down that path and to see what would develop from there.

“We’ll see about the future of motorsport. There is certainly room from dealer groups in their own right to establish these sort of things.”

Mr Winkler sees a promising future for all the Zagame franchises, but perhaps more so for Alfa Romeo. Zagame is Australia’s biggest Alfa Romeo dealer but it is one of the bright spots in a quiet market.

“Alfa Romeo has worked out very well,” he said.

“It’s a very interesting brand – the Giulia is a car that in my opinion fully meets the expectations of the Alfa Romeo brand, particularly with people who remember the history of the company.

“The product is absolutely sensational and the Stelvio SUV that will follow will be as good as Giulia in that segment.”

Zagame’s highly visible facility near Melbourne’s airport in Tullamarine is being used as a pre-delivery and storage centre. For the past 18 months it has also housed Zagame’s panel shop that is certified with prestige manufacturers for work including aluminium repair.

“That panel facility is already profitable,” Mr Winkler said.

“At some point, the facility may offer basic servicing for people using the airport.

“That idea is still floating around. Essentially our customers are mainly in the city – Audi for example – and customers really want to have their cars serviced close to where they live or work.”

The level of craftsmanship at Zagame’s Tullamarine body shop could open doors for it with Ferrari’s Classiche Department.

Mr Appleroth has already said that he could see the classic-car repair and service centre working with “one or two dealerships in Australia”.

“We are looking at that currently,” he said.

“The level of work will be limited. All of those people will be trained by our Classiche Department.

“But if it is a full strip-down restoration, that will always be in Maranello (Ferrari’s Italian factory). There is some work that can be done here but the heavy work will always be done in Maranello,” Mr Appleroth said.

“Classiche Department can rebuild any car, any part, any component. We have all full blueprints of any car we produce.

“We will be able to import some parts being made at Maranello. There are some fantastic artisans in Australia and we are looking to getting those people out in an official capacity,” Mr Appleroth said.

By Neil Dowling