Autostrada opens its doors to Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - While Filipinos have been exposed to the Ferrari and Maserati brands before, it wasn’t until last Thursday, March 1, that Autostrada Motore Inc., the first importer-distributor of Ferrari and Maserati in the Philippines, officially opened its doors. The showroom, located at 32nd & 4th Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, was inaugurated together with its factory certified service center.

The more than decade-long journey was one that Autostrada Motore Inc. chairman & president Wellington C. Soong was proud to have traveled. “We are very excited that our plan to open a Ferrari and Maserati dealership has finally come to fruition. It has been a challenging task to bring two premium supercar brands here but it is worth it. In a way, we have finally arrived,” said Soong. “As the official dealership for the Ferrari and Maserati, we are aligned with the new corporate identity, which reflects passion, technical excellence, and unique style of the brands. As part of a worldwide network of Ferrari and Maserati dealerships, Autostrada Motore Inc. ensures customers that they will receive only top-of-the-line customer service to match the legendary performance, technology, and style of their cars.”

Autostrada Motore Inc. chairman & president Wellington C. Soong poses with the Maserati Granturismo MC Stradale, one of two brand new models released to coincide with the opening of Autostrada Motore Inc.

The event, which was graced by members of the motoring media as well as several VIPs, was made extra special with the arrival of Herbert Appleroth, president and CEO of Ferrari Asia Pacific, Simon Inglefield, head of region, Ferrari Asia Pacific Other Countries, and Gaetano Marino, regional sales director for South East Asia Pacific of Maserati.

“As Ferrari’s international presence continues to expand, it gives me great pleasure to open a new dealership in the Philippines. Naturally the entire range will be available in this market, imported by Autostrada Motore Inc., the partner we’ve chosen and who shares with us the passion for Ferrari and its values,” said Appleroth.

Fittingly, two models were launched during the opening ceremonies: the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Maserati Granturismo MC Stradale. The 458 Italia is a combination of functionality and style aimed at guaranteeing optimal performance and visual impact. It continues the classic Maranello 8-cylinder engine tradition but with exceptional fuel consumption and emission levels, laying the foundations for the Ferraris of the future without losing touch with its roots. The Ferrari personalization program will support the client to uniquely configure their new Ferrari. The Maserati Granturismo MC Stradale, meanwhile, completes the Granturismo range as the brand’s most powerful performance model.

AUTOSTRADA MOTORE INC. OPENS: Autostrada Motore, Inc., official distributor of Ferrari and Maserati vehicles, formally opened its doors last March 1. Shown in photo at the ribbon cutting are Marc Louis Soong, executive director of Autostrada Motore, Inc.; Simon Inglefield, regional head for Ferrari Asia Pacific and other countries; Herbert Appleroth, president and CEO of Ferrari Asia Pacific; Wellington ‘Willie’ Soong, chairman and president of Autostrada Motore, Inc.; Gaetano Marino, regional sales director for Southeast Asia-Pacific of Maserati: and Jason Soong, executive director of Autostrada Motore, Inc.

“The Maserati Granturismo MC Stradale is considered the first street-legal Maserati car. It is the first to be equipped with light and powerful carbon-ceramic brakes, the first to use advanced electronics that minimize gearshift, the first to top 300 km/h, and the first road-going Maserati to have a dedicated Race mode,” revealed Marino.

With the official distributorship status for Ferrari and Maserati via Autostrada Motore Inc., Soong has just strengthened his luxury car brand portfolio, which also includes Land Rover, Range Rover and Jaguar.