Lamborghini of America CEO Andrea Baldi anxious to learn fate of supercars after cargo ship fire

The initially salvage crews are anticipated to board the drifting Felicity Ace on Wednesday, 6 days right after the car provider caught fireplace in the Atlantic Ocean though transporting approximately 4,000 Volkswagen Team motor vehicles from Europe to the U.S., such as VWs, Audis and Bentleys.

Few individuals might be a lot more eager to study the fate of those vehicles than Andrea Baldi, 46, who was appointed final August as CEO of Automobili Lamborghini America, which serves 48 dealers throughout the company’s biggest marketplace globally, North and South The usa.

There are dozens of Lamborghini autos aboard the Felicity Ace, principally Urus SUVs as nicely as some Huracans and Aventadors, all of which have been pre-bought to prospects who have now waited up to a yr for shipping and delivery, Baldi explained to Automotive News in an exclusive job interview Tuesday.

Estimates of the reduction from the fire are as significant as $335 million, and could go bigger at the time the ship and its contents are in a position to be inspected. The vehicles’ issue is as yet unknown, and may perhaps not be recognized for several times until finally the Felicity Ace can be towed again into port and its cargo inspected. From the exterior photographs taken and dispersed by the Portuguese navy, damages seemed to be heaviest on the ship’s port aspect, which was closely charred from bow to stern with a gaping hole at minimum 4 decks large midship.

“We you should not know yet the last end result. We also are waiting around for official details for the time remaining,” Baldi discussed. “We have knowledgeable our dealers, and they have knowledgeable our consumers, since no matter what happens, in any circumstance, there will be a hold off.”

Lamborghini could have an specifically tricky time with the fire if any of its cars were harmed aboard the ship simply because of the bespoke way its motor vehicles are hand-produced. The Aventador, for instance, is completely marketed out and was to be phased out of production to make area for a however-to-be-disclosed new model, Baldi mentioned. If any of the Aventadors were being broken or wrecked, Baldi speculated, Automobili Lamborghini would have to go back again to its suppliers to see if the motor vehicle could be rebuilt to satisfy the buyer purchase.

“At the minute, we really don’t know, and we will have to offer with the dilemma it will current. The auto is sold out, so there is generally a likelihood out of 563 units that some cancellation can let an Aventador substitution, but I want to hope for the time remaining that at the very least the number of Aventadors on the ship will be safe,” Baldi mentioned.

He explained in the broader perception, the incident on board the Felicity Ace “could come to be a six-thirty day period hold off, for sure,” in receiving the automobiles that were on board — or likely their replacements if necessary — sent to consumers. “It is typical when you have these kinds of a scarce item for there to be delays of even some months,” for any manufacturer of minimal-volume solutions, Baldi explained.

“We will inform the shoppers as shortly as we have a definitive photograph,” Baldi stated. “And you know, still we nonetheless hope for the greatest, but we are well prepared for the worst.”