Lamborghini to motor into China

China has pulling power for luxury car marques

Lamborghini is entering China for the first time, the latest luxury carmaker to exploit the country's growing taste for expensive Western goods.

Lamborghini, owned by Germany's Volkswagen, is opening a dealership in Shanghai, China's commercial capital.

The firm, whose least expensive model costs $180,000 (£103,000), follows Ferrari, Bentley and other luxury European marques into China.

China's rapid economic growth is boosting disposable wealth.

Conspicuous growth

A recent survey by Forbes magazine found that there are now eight billionaires in China while the country's 100 richest people have a combined fortune of $41bn.

China is the next best area for high-end vehicle growth Lamborghini

The Shanghai dealership will showcase Lamborghini's entire range, whose priciest models are available for more than $330,000.

"Recent research has proven that China is the next best area for high-end vehicle growth and for that reason Lamborghini has chosen to open a dealership in China," the firm said in a statement.

Luxury carmakers have increasingly been looking east as sales in Europe and the United States have dipped.

Ferrari and Bentley operate sales networks in China while Ford, BMW and Mercedes all manufacture vehicles there.