Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V., took time from his hectic, jam-packed schedule to celebrate the recent grand opening of Maserati Alfa Romeo of Oakville.
This is the first dealership in Canada where the two iconic and exotic Italian brands are paired together exclusively.
As an Italian-Canadian, Marchionne is proud to see Alfa Romeo on Canadian soil.
“I remember Alfas. I remember when I saw The Graduate in ‘68-’69 and the [Alfa Romeo Spider 1600] Duetto was visible at the end. I have fond memories of it. The brand is a phenomenal brand. If you look at its history and DNA – historically, it’s got lineage that goes back to Ferrari. The ability to make it live here now is incredible. It’s a unique thing. Never mind the 1,000 engineers who have worked on the architecture. The amount of work that went into developing the powertrains. It’ll be the best vehicle in its class. Period,” said Marchionne.
And there are other benefits. “I think this brand, Alfa, and Maserati will give an opportunity for an expansion of dealership networks. We need more places like this,” he added.
Remo Ferri (left) and Sergio Marchionne
(right) at the grand opening of Maserati
Alfa Romeo of Oakville.
Remo Ferri, president of the Remo Ferri Group of Automobiles, also owns three other Maserati stores in Ontario and Alberta, along with the Maranello Alfa Romeo in Vaughan, Ont. But combining the two brands into one dealership is a model he’ll likely repeat.
“I think we do a very good job with the Italian brands. Maserati and Alfa are both owned by the same family so I think it’s a great combination because they don’t compete against each other. They’re great brands. They’re a perfect match,” said Ferri.
The completely renovated 30,000 sq.ft. facility features an exquisite eight car showroom, along with a café, lounge, six car service drive-thru, and a full-service department. To mark the opening ceremony, live entertainment, Italian cuisine, and a display of vintage Maserati and Alfa Romeo vehicles alongside the latest 2015 models such as the Maserati Ghibli, Quattroporte, Gran Turismo, and the Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition models, were on display as part of the festivities.
