To the backdrop of the new Ferrari 430 Scuderia, General Manager Amedeo Felisa introduces the Maranello sportscar maker at a press conference in Detroit watched by the firm's North American CEO, and Maurizio Parlato.

With sales last year up to 1.55 billion euros and profits up to 230 million euros Ferrari plans to hike annual production to 8,000 units within the next three years. At the Detroit Motor Show Ferrari is in positive mood. On its way to the 1.55 billion euro sales figure for 2007, 15 percent up on the previous year, the Maranello based sportscar maker built 6,400 cars, a year-on-year rise of 14 percent.

The impressive operating profit last year (230 million euros) was another record figure, up from 183 million euros in 2006 as demand continued to rise, driven by the worldwide success of powerful new models, including the 599 GTB Fiorano and the 430 Scuderia, the latter introduced at last September's Frankfurt IAA. The operating profit stands at 15 percent of turnover.

Ferrari is making rapid advances in new markets, most notably China and the Arab nations. Ferrari President said that "in China we sold 180 cars [in 2007], and we are gaining dramatically in Gulf States and the Middle East." Asia Pacific region sales doubled last year while in the Middle East they were up by 32 percent.

He expects Chinese sales to rise to 500 units per year within the next five years, with the nation set to become Ferrari's fifth most important global market, behind the US, German, the UK, and Italy. To cope with this surge in demand annual production will be ramped up to 8,000 units per year by the end of 2010, while waiting list times will be cut. "Eighteen months are the maximum," commented Montezemolo. "Nobody will wait any longer." By raising production to satisfy the rapidly growing demand from new markets Ferrari believes that the brand's exclusivity won't be diluted.

Currently Ferrari has 1,850 orders for the new 430 Scuderia, which is the latest example of it programme of F1 technology being transferred for the road, and with 500 of these orders being customers destined for customers in the United States. The 599 GTB Fiorano has a waiting list of 430.

This week at the North American Auto Show in Detroit Ferrari is presenting a concept Bio Fuel powered version of the F430 Spider. US sales amounted to 1,762 units last year, with a further 90 coming from Central and South America. 61 units were sold in Canada.