We don’t like to announce this, but the next victim of the economical and financial crisis is known. This time it’s Automobili Lamborghini that is going to slow down production for a period of two weeks. The news comes as a surprise, because Lamborghini very recently introduced a new limited model and the production of the Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder should have started by now.
Lamborghini’s production slowdown will affect around 300 members of its 1000-plus workforce, but it has already agreed the move with unions.
Lamborghini president and CEO Stephan Winkelmann says:
We have established a decade of sales and profit increases, including another record year for deliveries in 2008, but we cannot maintain the previous levels of production during the downturn. Therefore, in agreement with the unions, we have decided to implement the option of a working time reduction. This provides a flexible reaction to market volatilities and helps to ensure production jobs in the long term.
The head of the union representing Italy’s car workers. Alberto Cocchi, commented:
The working time reduction has been agreed in order to safeguard jobs and to retain the growth realised by the company during the previous two years. Paying attention to personnel will be crucial for economic recovery.
Next to that, sir Winkelmann says:
The company will not abandon its long-term strategy and is not making any reductions in its investment and growth plans. We are committed to introducing one new product to the market each year.
