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BEIJING, China - A wealthy Chinese owner of a Maserati hired four men, gave each a sledgehammer, and told them to smash his personal R3.5-million supercar.
Why? Well, because he didn't much like the service he was getting from the Italian auto company's local dealer.
Back 2011, a businessman also in Qingdao, destroyed his Lamborghini - another Italian car - after failing to get problems with the engine and other car parts repaired properly.
The Maserati owner, identified only by his surname Wang (which isn't much use, but anyway...) had the group attack the Maserati Quattroporte at the opening of an auto show in Qingdao, a city in the eastern Shandong province, the Qingdao Morning Post said.
DEALER PROBLEMS
Video images show the men going about their task with gusto, leaving the vehicle with a shattered windscreen and mirrors, the grille broken and the bodywork dented. It was also draped with a banner accusing the Italian automaker of poor decision-making.
Wang bought the luxury car in 2011 for 2.6-million yuan, the report said - around 100 times the average annual income of a Chinese urban resident - but problems arose when he took it back to the dealer for an unspecified repair. He claimed he was charged for new parts but the dealer installed used ones; later, the dealer failed to fix a problem with a door - and scratched the car.
Wang said: "I hope foreign luxury-car producers acknowledge clearly that Chinese consumers are entitled to get service commensurate with the brand."
MASERATI RESPONDS
Maserati's China arm said the company and its dealer in Qingdao had responded to the customer's complaint and it regretted his decision.
It said in a statement: "We deeply regret that the customer decided to terminate bilateral talks in such a sudden manner."
Qingdao's authorised Maserati dealer said on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo: "We deeply regret that before the two sides could reach a result via negotiation, the vehicle owner... smashed the world famous car in public... to cause a sensation."
During the dispute "thugs" had disrupted its daily operations and intimidated staff and visitors, it added.
China is the world's largest auto market; it overtook the US in 2009. It is also a key market for luxury brands, with the country's growing ranks of mega-rich splashing out on supercars to show off their wealth.
Wang, we guess, hopes they won't be buying a Maserati...
Watch the video!
Why? Well, because he didn't much like the service he was getting from the Italian auto company's local dealer.
Back 2011, a businessman also in Qingdao, destroyed his Lamborghini - another Italian car - after failing to get problems with the engine and other car parts repaired properly.
The Maserati owner, identified only by his surname Wang (which isn't much use, but anyway...) had the group attack the Maserati Quattroporte at the opening of an auto show in Qingdao, a city in the eastern Shandong province, the Qingdao Morning Post said.
DEALER PROBLEMS
Video images show the men going about their task with gusto, leaving the vehicle with a shattered windscreen and mirrors, the grille broken and the bodywork dented. It was also draped with a banner accusing the Italian automaker of poor decision-making.
Wang bought the luxury car in 2011 for 2.6-million yuan, the report said - around 100 times the average annual income of a Chinese urban resident - but problems arose when he took it back to the dealer for an unspecified repair. He claimed he was charged for new parts but the dealer installed used ones; later, the dealer failed to fix a problem with a door - and scratched the car.
Wang said: "I hope foreign luxury-car producers acknowledge clearly that Chinese consumers are entitled to get service commensurate with the brand."
MASERATI RESPONDS
Maserati's China arm said the company and its dealer in Qingdao had responded to the customer's complaint and it regretted his decision.
It said in a statement: "We deeply regret that the customer decided to terminate bilateral talks in such a sudden manner."
Qingdao's authorised Maserati dealer said on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo: "We deeply regret that before the two sides could reach a result via negotiation, the vehicle owner... smashed the world famous car in public... to cause a sensation."
During the dispute "thugs" had disrupted its daily operations and intimidated staff and visitors, it added.
China is the world's largest auto market; it overtook the US in 2009. It is also a key market for luxury brands, with the country's growing ranks of mega-rich splashing out on supercars to show off their wealth.
Wang, we guess, hopes they won't be buying a Maserati...
Watch the video!
