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[Graphic News] More Koreans say they plan long-distance trips this year
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[KH Explains] Hyundai's full hybrid edge to pay off amid slow transition to pure EVs
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North Korea removes streetlights along cross-border roads with South
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Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official
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Farming households dip below 1m for first time in 2023
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주문생산방식으로 판매되는 이탈리아의 명차 람보르기니. 이를 주문한 고객들은 가위처럼 열리는 “시저도어”로 유명한 아벤타도르의 경우 12개월, 로드스터버전은 18개월 이상을 대기해야 한다.
공식수입판매사인 람보르기니서울 이동훈대표는 “람보르기니 고객들에게 이 1년은 결코 지루한 시간이 아니라 설레임과 기대로 가득한 시간”이고 “이때가 최종 차를 인도받을 때보다도 어쩌면 더 즐거운 시간”이라고 설명한다.
한국고객들의 경우 다른 주요 아시아시장보다 대기시간이 최근 조금 더 단축되고 있는데 국내시장에서의 뜨거운 반응을 확인한 람보르기니 본사가 성장세에 힘을 보태기 위해 보다 우선해서 차량을 공급해 주고 있기 때문이라고 한다.
“여전히 물량 확보가 제일 어렵다. 2-3개월 정도 더 단축하는 것이 목표”라고 그는 덧붙였다.
90년대 말 BMW코리아에 입사하며 사회에 첫발을 내디딘 이대표는 수입차업계에만 16년을 보낸 베테랑이다. 현 FMK의 전신인 쿠즈플러스에서 페라리와 마세라티의 판매를 담당했고 2004년 재규어랜드로버코리아에 합류한 그는 브랜드총괄을 거쳐 2008년부터 2011년까지 대표이사를 지내기도 했다.
“람보르기니서울의 대표가 된 게 지난 4월 1일 만우절이었다. 이직 소식을 알렸더니 친구들은 거짓말인줄 알더라.”
지난 10년 동안 국내 수입차 시장이 급성장 하고 있다. 최근에는 이른바 “슈퍼카” 메이커들이 한국시장의 잠재력을 재발견하며 공세를 펼치고 있다.
올 들어 8월까지 1억이 넘는 고가 럭셔리카는 7천대 가까이 팔리며 전체 판매 액은 1조원을 훌쩍 넘겼다.
람보르기니 역시 지난해 23대를 판매하며 전년대비 50% 성장을 기록했고 올해에도 목표량인 30대를 무난히 넘길 것으로 이대표는 예상하고 있다.
“지금까지 독일브랜드들이 성장을 주도해왔고 이제 슈퍼카들이 가세하기 시작했다. 경제상황과 무관하게 꾸준히 성장하는 시장이다.”
주고객층은 3-40대의 상대적으로 젊은 전문직 종사자들이고 실제로 상당한 레이싱 지식과 실력을 갖춘 사람들이라고 한다. 여성의 비율은 전체 고객의 10%에 불가하지만 실제 차를 모는 비율은 이보다 높을 것이라고 했다.
차체가 워낙 낮아 운전이 까다로울 것이라는 예상과 달리 “프론트리프트” 기능 덕분에 과속방지턱이나 진입로 등을 시속 40킬로미터 이하로 지날 때에는 앞범퍼가 들리는 등 다양한 편의기능이 장착돼있어 수월하다는게 그의 설명이다.
이대표는 “생각보다 조용하고 편안한 것이 특징”이라며 “람보르기니는 물론 꿈의 차이지만 불가능한 꿈”도 아니라고 이야기한다.
취임 이후 아벤타도르 로드스터와 신형 가야도르를 잇따라 새롭게 출시하면서 바쁜 일정을 소화하고 있는 그는 조만간 이탈리아 본사를 첫 방문해 내년 판매계획을 조율할 예정이다.
“모회사가 벤틀리, 아우디 등을 공식 수입하고 있는 참존이다. 전세계 어디에 내놓아도 경쟁력 있는 슈퍼카그룹을 만드는데 일조하고 싶다”고 포부를 밝혔다.
(코리아헤럴드 이지윤 기자)
<관련 영문 기사>
Lamborghini bullish on nascent Korean market
By Lee Ji-yoon
Customers all over the world have to queue for months to get their hands on a Lamborghini, according to the Italian “super sports car” brand.
In key markets, it takes 12 months for the scissor-doored Aventador and 18 months for its roadster version.
However, for the Korean clientele, the waiting time is expected to be reduced by as much as two to three months, thanks to support from its headquarters in Bologna, not to mention Volkswagen Group, which now owns Lamborghini.
“That would be faster than in other top seller markets such as China and Japan,” said Lee Dong-hoon, managing director of Lamborghini Seoul, in an interview with The Korea Herald.
“Impressed by the recent staggering growth, the head office is well aware of the market potential in Korea. They want to support more aggressively our recent sales momentum.”
He added: “Of course, for Lamborghini owners, the waiting months are not just a tedious time but a time full of anticipation about the car they are about to encounter.”
Amid the surging sales of foreign-brand cars in recent years, global luxury carmakers are piling into Korea, a nascent market for so-called “super cars.”
In the eight months of this year, sales of high-priced cars worth 100 million won ($93,000) or more soared to more than 7,000 units, with the combined sales amount exceeding the 1 trillion won.
The official Korean importer of Lamborghinis -- whose sticker prices start from 300 million won here -- also saw its car sales jump 50 percent to 23 vehicles last year. This year, the CEO feels confident about selling more than 30 cars, another 50 percent growth.
“German brands have led the rapid growth over the past 10 years. Now supercar makers are joining to heat up the market overall,” he said.
Lee, who joined Lamborghini in April, started his career at BMW Korea in the late 1990s when foreign car owners used to become the target of tax investigations.
Since then, he has never left the industry. He worked with several premium brands such as Ferrari, Maserati and Jaguar. He served as managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Korea between 2008 and 2011.
“Over the years, Korea has become the world’s fifth-largest automotive producer. More Koreans enjoy driving, including running on the racetrack,” he said.
“People’s awareness still needs to be renewed for real progress. Terms like ‘imported cars’ or ‘foreign brands’ show the market’s closed nature and protectionism. They are just ‘cars.’”
About 1,500 people are believed to own a Lamborghini in Korea. This year, the company aims to sell at least 25 of its Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera Edizione Tecnica.
There are some owners who reluctant to reveal their appetite for their pricier toys. But younger generations, equipped with deep insights into the brand and driving, enjoy sharing the excitement with others, Lee said.
“People in their 30s and 40s make up the largest age group of the customers. About 10 percent are women,” he said.
The CEO agrees Lamborghini is a dream car for many. The outlandish machines are more like a fantasy than actual vehicles, while the thrill of the drive is beyond imagination.
“But I think it’s not an impossible dream but a dream that has yet to be realized,” Lee said.
(jylee@heraldcorp.com)
Lamborghini bullish on nascent Korean market
By Lee Ji-yoon
Customers all over the world have to queue for months to get their hands on a Lamborghini, according to the Italian “super sports car” brand.
In key markets, it takes 12 months for the scissor-doored Aventador and 18 months for its roadster version.
However, for the Korean clientele, the waiting time is expected to be reduced by as much as two to three months, thanks to support from its headquarters in Bologna, not to mention Volkswagen Group, which now owns Lamborghini.
“That would be faster than in other top seller markets such as China and Japan,” said Lee Dong-hoon, managing director of Lamborghini Seoul, in an interview with The Korea Herald.
“Impressed by the recent staggering growth, the head office is well aware of the market potential in Korea. They want to support more aggressively our recent sales momentum.”
He added: “Of course, for Lamborghini owners, the waiting months are not just a tedious time but a time full of anticipation about the car they are about to encounter.”
Amid the surging sales of foreign-brand cars in recent years, global luxury carmakers are piling into Korea, a nascent market for so-called “super cars.”
In the eight months of this year, sales of high-priced cars worth 100 million won ($93,000) or more soared to more than 7,000 units, with the combined sales amount exceeding the 1 trillion won.
The official Korean importer of Lamborghinis -- whose sticker prices start from 300 million won here -- also saw its car sales jump 50 percent to 23 vehicles last year. This year, the CEO feels confident about selling more than 30 cars, another 50 percent growth.
“German brands have led the rapid growth over the past 10 years. Now supercar makers are joining to heat up the market overall,” he said.
Lee, who joined Lamborghini in April, started his career at BMW Korea in the late 1990s when foreign car owners used to become the target of tax investigations.
Since then, he has never left the industry. He worked with several premium brands such as Ferrari, Maserati and Jaguar. He served as managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Korea between 2008 and 2011.
“Over the years, Korea has become the world’s fifth-largest automotive producer. More Koreans enjoy driving, including running on the racetrack,” he said.
“People’s awareness still needs to be renewed for real progress. Terms like ‘imported cars’ or ‘foreign brands’ show the market’s closed nature and protectionism. They are just ‘cars.’”
About 1,500 people are believed to own a Lamborghini in Korea. This year, the company aims to sell at least 25 of its Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera Edizione Tecnica.
There are some owners who reluctant to reveal their appetite for their pricier toys. But younger generations, equipped with deep insights into the brand and driving, enjoy sharing the excitement with others, Lee said.
“People in their 30s and 40s make up the largest age group of the customers. About 10 percent are women,” he said.
The CEO agrees Lamborghini is a dream car for many. The outlandish machines are more like a fantasy than actual vehicles, while the thrill of the drive is beyond imagination.
“But I think it’s not an impossible dream but a dream that has yet to be realized,” Lee said.
(jylee@heraldcorp.com)
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