McLaren plans 8 China dealerships by 2014
British supercar maker McLaren plans to have eight dealerships in China by early 2014 as the automaker bets on rising demand for high-performance cars.
McLaren plans to sell 100 to 150 units of its carbon-fiber MP4-12C coupe in the first 12 months after initially opening four dealerships in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Chengdu, said Ian Gorsuch, McLaren's Asia-Pacific director.
The first China showrooms will be added by mid-2013 with four more opening in 2014, he added.
The 592-hp MP4-12C costs 168,500 pounds (1.7 million yuan) in the United Kingdom.
McLaren, the most successful Formula One racing team after Ferrari, said last year that it will spend 6.4 billion yuan to unveil 13 models and variants in the coming years to lure buyers from rivals Ferrari and Lamborghini.
The carmaker, which has opened 35 showrooms in 19 markets in the past year, is delaying an immediate push into China until it has more production, Gorsuch said.
"We chose the high brand-building markets such as Japan, and once we get that established we'll start expansion" in other parts of Asia, Gorsuch said Tuesday in an interview after a press briefing in Tokyo.
"We don't have enough production; that's why we don't have China from the start," he said.
Luxury car demand is continuing to rise in China as economic growth increases wealth. It's the second-largest market for Ferrari and Lamborghini, and the largest for British ultraluxury brand Bentley.
McLaren has also opened showrooms in Hong Kong and Singapore this year.
The first China showrooms will be added by mid-2013 with four more opening in 2014, he added.
The 592-hp MP4-12C costs 168,500 pounds (1.7 million yuan) in the United Kingdom.
McLaren, the most successful Formula One racing team after Ferrari, said last year that it will spend 6.4 billion yuan to unveil 13 models and variants in the coming years to lure buyers from rivals Ferrari and Lamborghini.
The carmaker, which has opened 35 showrooms in 19 markets in the past year, is delaying an immediate push into China until it has more production, Gorsuch said.
"We chose the high brand-building markets such as Japan, and once we get that established we'll start expansion" in other parts of Asia, Gorsuch said Tuesday in an interview after a press briefing in Tokyo.
"We don't have enough production; that's why we don't have China from the start," he said.
Luxury car demand is continuing to rise in China as economic growth increases wealth. It's the second-largest market for Ferrari and Lamborghini, and the largest for British ultraluxury brand Bentley.
McLaren has also opened showrooms in Hong Kong and Singapore this year.
