Stephan Winkelmann in New Delhi on Monday. (Reuters)

New Delhi, Sept. 23: Premium sports car maker Lamborghini plans to target the rising number of high net worth individuals in the country.

The Italian company aims to sell at least 20 of its sports cars this year.

“We will sell around 20 cars this year. In 2012, we sold 17 cars and in 2011 we sold 15,” president and CEO Stephan Winkelmann said while unveiling the company’s first showroom in Delhi. Lamborghini also has a showroom in Mumbai.

“India could do much better (sales). But there are challenges. Traffic, road conditions and taxation are not helping us.”

The company is hopeful of increasing its sales to about 30-40 cars per annum within a few years. “Potential is very much there because of the rising high net individuals (HNIs) here,” he said. The company is also planning to open its third showroom in South India to cash in on the rising number of HNIs in that region.

“India is an important market for us. Hence we are looking at expanding our network. We are in discussion stage right now. We are interested (to open) in Bangalore,” Winkelmann said.

In India, Lamborghini sells two models — Gallardo and Aventador — which are priced between Rs 2.8 crore and Rs 6.30 crore.

M&M move

Pawan Goenka, credited with developing a slew of Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) models, has been appointed executive director of the company for five years, a rare feat as he will be the first ED on the board in more than two decades.

He will continue to hold on to his previous designation of president of the automotive and farm equipment divisions.