Daytona Group Named Official Mclaren Automotive Retailer In South Africa - VIDEO ENHANCED

WOKING, UNITED KINGDOM – Aug 2, 2010: McLaren Automotive, the world’s newest sports car company today announced that Daytona Group will be the company’s local partner in South Africa.

Daytona group will host two McLaren Automotive sales and service facilities, one in Johannesburg and another in Cape Town. Personnel in these two centers will receive ongoing first hand training from McLaren Automotive experts at the company’s headquarters in Woking, UK.

Daytona Group will begin selling McLaren Automotive’s first car, the MP4-12C, from the summer of 2011. Globally, the car has received over 2,700 expressions of interest, registered on www.mclarenautomotive.com. This means that initial interest in the 12C has already exceeded the first year’s allocation, which will be limited to just 1,000 MP4-12Cs worldwide.

Ian Gorsuch, McLaren Automotive’s Regional Director for the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, said: “I am pleased to announce the partnership between McLaren Automotive and our new representative, Daytona Group, who are among the best in the car retail business in the region. South Africa, with its well informed, passionate car enthusiasts, is a key market for us. The extremely positive feedback we have received from potential customers is evidence of the country’s strong understanding of the McLaren brand and heritage. Daytona Group, with their focus on looking after the customer and strong brand management, is an ideal partner for us.”

“At McLaren Automotive, we believe that by combining an excellent product with the highest standards of customer care we will be able to lay down the foundations for our enduring success. By joining forces with Daytona Group, whose reputation and experience in the South African market have proved highly attractive to us, we will ensure our customers receive the very best on both fronts,” added Gorsuch.

Click PLAY to watch the MP4-12C on the track

Justin Divaris, CEO of Daytona Group, said: “The opportunity to represent McLaren in South Africa is an honor. We aim to serve McLaren Automotive customers in South Africa with passion and professionalism not only during the purchase process. We will look after the car and owner afterwards, giving them everything they need for years of happy ownership.”

Divaris continued, “Through our long experience in the automotive business, we have come to realize that South African car buyers are demanding, however, they enjoy and appreciate high performance cars. I am confident that McLaren Automotive will secure a significant share of the sports car market in South Africa. We are certain that McLaren Automotive will be a great addition to Daytona Group.”

Click PLAY to watch Pt. 1 of the McLaren MP4-12C Introduction Press Conference

Daytona Group will join a global network of 35 partners who will be responsible for selling an initial annual production run of 1,000 MP4-12Cs. Subsequently, as McLaren Automotive moves to a full model range of high-performance, two-seat, mid-engine sports cars, and the aim is to sell around 4,000 cars annually by the middle of the decade.

Click PLAY to watch Pt. 2 of the McLaren Press Conference video