Reference Auto

The super-luxury category in India is sizzling again as car giants are bullish that it could almost double in the medium term (five years) and the latest company to eye a foray is Spyker Cars, which hogged the limelight after Sharon Stone had a blast with one of its models in Hollywood thriller Basic Instinct 2. Spyker is putting its India plans on the fast lane and hopes to begin its journey sometime next year.

But the sports car maker, which acquired Saab early in the year, has been plagued by losses, from which it is unlikely to escape in the near future.

The group is betting on Russia and China to sell a range of new premium Saab models that the company hopes would raise margins. Due to a production halt at Saab, the group expects to sell only 30,000-35,000 cars this year — far below its previous target of 45,000. In 2012, it has set an ambitious sales target of 120,000 cars.

Worldwide, Spyker sells models such as the iconic C8 series, one of which was driven by Sharon Stone in the Hollywood thriller. Spyker Cars is a Netherlands-based auto major engaged in the making of high-end luxury cars.

Even though the company did not wish to unwrap the price tags of its models, the Marques with hand-crafted body panels will touch several crores when it hits India’s roads.

The C8 Spyder Aileron, for example, comes for a cool £2,20,000 (about Rs 1.6 crore) in London. Other models that the luxury automaker makes include LM85, C12 Zagato and D8 Peking-to-Paris.

The company may not have rolled out retail sales in the country but it does have an India connection. In 2007, UB Group promoter Vijay Mallya and Dutch entrepreneur Jan and Michiel Mol had together bought the Spyker Formula One team and rechristened it Force India.

Spyker Cars has already shortlisted potential partners to import its vehicles and two dealerships are expected to come up in Delhi and Mumbai.

“Spyker is always looking for the right partners in viable markets for the brand and we are discussing with a number of potential partners in many markets that include India,” an official of the sales department of the luxury sports car maker said.

“Spyker has shortlisted potential partners and we will announce the new retail partner when the arrangements are finalised. It is our intention to launch the Spyker product in 2011,” the company added.

The Indian luxury car market has been hotting up by the day as many global players have rolled out their latest products.

Recently, Volkswagen Group firm Bugatti Automobiles launched its super premium sports car Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport priced at an astounding Rs 16 crore. At such a price, the Bugatti Veyron is clearly India’s most expensive car till date.

UK’s luxury carmaker Aston Martin (famous for its James Bond cars) is also believed to be readying for the Indian market and has forged an alliance with Infinity Cars to open its first showroom in Mumbai. Aston Martin cars are likely to cost up to Rs 3 crore.

Spyker posted a third-quarter operating loss of euro 50 million on sales of 275 million and registered a cash outflow of euro 115 million during the first nine months. Considering the results, it will be very difficult for Spyker to put an aggressive advertising and marketing plan in place which it has to undertake since it is still an unknown brand in India.