Audi 2008 Annual Report Download - page 110

THE ATTRACTIVE ITALIAN
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03 04
05
107
Pride Vorsprung
Almost all the older people in this town of over 7,000 in-
habitants have some kind of story to tell about Ferruccio
Lamborghini, the man with the elegant, combed-back hair.
How he loved to be seen with beautiful women. How he
much preferred simple meals. How he used to drive by and
show off his latest cars. The people here have many anec-
dotes to share. Only Donatella Martinelli at the bakery is
somewhat reluctant to open up – her relationship with Fer-
ruccio was much more private. As a teenager, she doted on
the man behind the dream cars. But she didn’t actually
meet him until years later, when she and her husband visited
the noble vineyards Lamborghini bought after selling his
sports car factory in 1972. All of the Lamborghini models
were on display here. From then on, whenever Lamborghini
came to Sant’Agata, he always visited Donatella and her hus-
band, and shopped at their bakery. “We spent many pleas-
ant evenings together, drinking wine and eating well,” she
recalls. “He was like my grandpa.” She was devastated by
his death in 1993. Ferruccio Lamborghini touched people’s
hearts, just as his cars still do. And that is most obvious
among the people who develop, design and build them.
People like Mario Fasanetto. His career development is
typical of Lamborghini and shows the versatility that char-
acterizes the brand’s employees. In 1985, he joined Lam-
borghini as an engine design engineer, switched over to
customer support, took care of classic cars, and finally
became a test driver. His colleagues Claudio Carretti, who
now works in body development, and Maner Conti, current-
ly responsible for quality control, have already performed
different functions within the company as well. “It’s why
I have a very clear understanding of what a Lamborghini
actually is,” says Fasanetto. “It’s got to be an extreme car.
It must have a clearly defined character. A Lamborghini is
a car that always lets you feel its power, and which you
climb out of with a smile on your face.”
And sometimes the company provides for happiness of a
very different sort: Giulia Ganzerla, a 32-year-old logistics
engineer, fell in love with a colleague here. They aren’t the
first married couple to meet in the sports car plant. And it
isn’t uncommon for entire families to work for the auto
brand with the bull in its logo. Giulia Ganzerla and her fam-
ily are already well on their way to doing this. Though her
son may be only two years old, he is already an enthusiastic
fan of these cult cars. “My husband and I have agreed never
to talk about work at home,” she confides. “But then we
walk into our son’s room and it’s got Lamborghini wherever
you look!”
Not surprisingly, scale-model Lamborghini cars also deco-
rate the mayor’s office. For Daniela Occhiali, these vehicles
are works of art, small metal sculptures worthy of a mu-
seum exhibition. And yes, she has taken a ride in a full-size
Lamborghini. “It’s hard to believe you’re sitting in a car, so
extraordinary is the sensation of the acceleration,” she raves.
Right behind Daniela Occhiali’s massive desk hang three
large flags; the Italian, the European, and – representing
the whole world – the United Nations banner. Of course,
her primary focus is local, because the more successful her
large neighborhood company is, the better it is for her
town. And so Madam Mayor has nothing but praise for the
good relationships with Automobili Lamborghini – especially
ever since AUDI AG took charge more than 10 years ago.
Since that time, Sant’Agata’s prime mover has been run-
ning at high revs. The results are impressive: In 2008,
2,430 supercars found an enthusiastic buyer somewhere
in the world. A new record and a remarkable achievement
considering that, until 2002, Lamborghini only sold an
average of 250 of its supercars in any 12-month period.
The Audi know-how is paying dividends in both quality
and production. And there are funds available again for
new designs and product improvement. As a result,
Lamborghini now has the youngest and broadest product
range in its history. And its dealer network has also been
expanded worldwide.
At the same time, Lamborghini has remained a thoroughly
Italian brand at heart. Many key positions remain firmly
in Italian hands. Audi sees itself as the big partner who
provides knowledge and technology, but who appreciates
Italian skill and competence in building sports cars.
“Lamborghini has become more international,” auto-body
designer Claudio Carretti summarizes. “We have more
methodology, more organization, more precision, a better
grasp of the whole picture. We have matured.”
Freelance reporter Sandro Mattioli writes for Stern, Tagesspiegel,
Berliner Zeitung and Financial Times Deutschland. He lives in Rome.