How will the Caifornia affect Italia production numbers

I think they said they wanted to move the successor of the 430 upscale as an more extreme sportscar/trackcar to make room for the California as the "mainstream" model with the highest production numbers. That would mean that they expect quite some F430 customers to move to the California while the purists stay with the Italia, of which would be produced less in that scenario.

 

For the sake of all motoring enthusiasts, I was rather hoping things would be the other way around and the 458 would put the brakes on Cali production...

Honestly, I think the answer is a bit more simple - firm orders will dictate cars produced. Ferrari's production scheduling is flexible enough to mean that they can react to the market and make what the market is demanding. It is therefore fair to presume that California's will pile off the production line for the next few months until such time as Ferrari can spool up 458 production, at which point the number of cars produced will be in direct ratio to the number of 458/Cali orders held by the factory.

 

It would be great if someone who actually knows something about the Ferrari factory could post. The California production line is the new line opened in January of 09. The old V8 production line stopped producing 430's of any variety at the end of July when the factory closed for August break. I know that the old V8 production line will gear up for 458 production when the factory reopens in September. What I don't know is whether the California production line can produce anything other than Californias at present. Does any fchatter have any information?

 

Amongst the mountain of 458 press releases I noted a comment that the 458 would be produced on the same line as the Cali - and hence my comments above re Cali/458 production. I can't substantiate this with any other evidence, but it makes sense. Will be interesting to hear if anyone else has concrete information.

 

I was at the factory in late July, and there were only 16Ms and Scuderia's on the 430 production line - quiate a lot of them actually. I was not aware when production of these stops - I suspect that in order to fulfill current orders in may well run past the August close since the 458 wont be produced on that line. If the 458 launches at Frankfurt, I wouldn't expect European deliveries until Dec/Jan as UK are expected in Mar/Apr.

The 458 will defnitely be produced on the California production line - and if you get a chance it is well worth seeing - quite fantastic!

 

The new line at the factory has upped Ferrari's capacity to well over 10,000 cars per year at current labor shift patterns - one shift a day, five days a week.
That is more than enough to meet their very optimistic sales goals for the 2010 model year across all models - California, 458, 599, 612.

The paint shop and engine plant also have enough capacity not only for the Ferrari models, but for all of the Maseratis as well.

 

I would love to see the 458 in such demand... that if forces Ferrari to rethink its
production mix.

Hopefully the dealers showrooms will be clogged with front engine (612, 599 and Californias) while people wait 2 years for a 458.

I'd love to see this car prove to Ferrari (that 3 front engine GT cars) was the wrong way to take the company. Unfortunately, the aging Ferrari costumer now cares more about golf clubs in the back, than a engine behind you.