Hesperus is right. And Bahrain has the highest per capita "consumption" of RUF cars in the world apparently. I saw an RT12, a CTR2 and a Yellowbird CTR in the same place one day at the track last year already. Khalid, aka 03-turbo911 knows much more about this.
This is certainly going to be RUF's best testing ground after the Nurburgring that is.

 

I don't doubt they are the highest consumers of RUF products. But damn, they only mod one brand of car and how many could they possibly sell in a year to justify a facility like that? The US store looks like a used car lot compared to that place. Looks like we know why their superchargers cost $25K

All kidding aside, the people from that part of the world are going to buy RUF cars whether they make them there or in Nebraska. Why not keep producing them in Germany and just have a service center there? Seems like they're making way too much money if they can afford such a lavish facility to market their products there. Are they having trouble selling cars there that they need this sort of a facility? It's a beautiful building though.

 

I ask Myself the same questions!! He must have got TREMENDOUS support from the goverment to justify it!

 

wow i would love to visit that facility

 

From hesperus "it helps when a member of the Bahrain royal family is a hardcore Ruf fanatic... and a business partner. "




I figured that the minute I saw the title

Never the less congrats to the best porsche tuner in the world.

 

AFAIK none of the RUF Autocenters are owned by RUF.

This is the first car maker in the Arab world. And a good start at that!

 

The German high performance sports car maker, RUF-Automobile GmbH - renowned for its craftsmanship in upgrading, servicing and restoring Porsche models - today announced its plans to set up a full-fledged service, production and marketing base in the Kingdom, its first such facility outside its home-base in Pfaffenhausen, Germany.

The new company, RUF-Middle East (RUF-ME), is being set up as a joint venture with local businessman, Rashad Janahi at an initial investment of $50 million.

In a joint announcement at a media briefing held near the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), senior representatives of RUF and RUF-ME, said the planned automobile production, servicing and marketing facility, is a one-of-its-kind development in the region, and is an indication of the growing maturity of the motoring market.

Explaining RUF's decision to set up a base in the region, Alois Ruf, managing director, RUF-Automobile, said: "The Middle East, with its strong equestrian and great outdoors tradition, has over the past several years emerged as a key market for high-speed, high-performance automobiles. RUF has had a strong relationship with this region for over 20 years, which is reflected in its increasing customer base among high net worth individuals and avid sports car aficionados who take pride in owning custom-built high-performance machines.

"Our new facility will place us in closer proximity to our customers in the region, while also affording us access to other Asian markets. It will allow us to service RUF models that are already present here, while also developing the high-end automobile market for RUF in the region."

"Obviously, Bahrain is the ideal choice for a production facility for a car manufacturer like RUF, because the Kingdom is the first in the Middle East to have a Formula 1 circuit, which will bolster the region's interest in luxury sports cars and in turn generate a surge in demand for our premium cars," he said.

The state-of-the-art production facility will come up on a 20,000 sq m plot adjacent to the Formula 1 circuit.

The RUF production base will also feature an advanced Research & Development (R&D) centre.

Full-scale construction of the facility is expected to commence within the next two months, and will be completed in a record time of 18-20 months.

Ruf further said the friendly investment policies of the Government of Bahrain, excellent infrastructure and seamless access to the regional markets were key drivers behind the company's decision to set up a production base in the Kingdom.

RUF was first established in 1939 as an auto service garage. Over the years RUF grew, manufacturing passenger tourist coaches and in 1963, the company began maintenance, servicing and repairing of Porsche cars, a business which it continues to do.

RUF began upgrading and tuning Porsche cars from 1970 onwards and in 1980s began manufacturing cars under its own brand name. RUF cars are based on 911 body shells. RUF manufactures only about 35 cars a year, which is purchased by car enthusiasts, race drivers and connoisseurs. Each car is customized according to the requirements of the buyer and sells for upwards of Euro 100,000, boasting of a top speed of 360 km/h

Elaborating on the company's expansion plans, Ruf added: "We are also in the advanced stages of the development of our new, indigenous super car, which is slated to be launched next year. Our joint venture in Bahrain will supplement the production facility in Germany for the production of this car, which will be totally hand-tailored as is the case with all RUF cars."

The new RUF offering is aimed at the premium end of the luxury sports car market, affords a large degree of customisation to customers, and will sell at a price to be announced in due course.

"While starting off with limited production volumes, we aim to gradually upgrade our facilities in Bahrain to increase this number to more than 20 units in the near future," he added.

Ruf, who will chair the newly-formed company, further said RUF, which has been a leading name in the global automobile industry for over 60 years, has joined hands with leading entrepreneur and car aficionado, Rashad Janahi, to set up the base in the Kingdom. "We are very proud to join hands with Mr Rashad Janahi for the setting up of RUF-ME, and we are confident that this partnership will immensely benefit RUF in its renewed foray into the region's market."

Commenting on the partnership, Janahi, vice-chairman, RUF-ME, said: "RUF is known as a pioneering innovator within the global auto industry and is considered one of the most respected high-performance car manufacturers in the world.

"We consider it as a great privilege to be a partner of RUF in the region. We also believe that it is an extremely timely decision by RUF to set up a base in the Kingdom of Bahrain, which only stands to benefit from the rising reputation of the country among global automobile enthusiasts."

Janahi further said: "The development of the Formula 1 track which has catapulted Bahrain's image globally as an exciting, modern and vibrant country, is yet another example of the visionary leadership of the rulers and the government in shaping the future of the country."

 

I think they are gettinga ton of financial support for the goverment there. For a country like that they could build the whole facility for RUF and not even miss the money.

 

great article. thanks for posting. a whopping 35 cars a year? amazing. i would have guessed at least several hundred a year. that makes this expansion even more impressive. i guess they're "banking" on big things to come out of this....

 

Isn't Dubai building a massive Ferrari World complex this will be RUF world in Bahrain

 

Don't forget the RK Spyder jean.

Very excited to have RUF practically on my door step!

 

This is all well and good, but what happened to the R50?

Greg A

 

The Bahrain rulers are total car maniacs, sorry about the ties Khalid, but its true. Probably the only place in the world where an Enzo stays in the background and no one cares. Crazy country I tell you guys. Mr. RUF is one smart business man, always said it.

 

deputy, from what I understand, a member of the Bahrain Royal Family is a business partner (i.e., investor) in this facility. This is entirely a guess, but its likely that Ruf Bahrain is a joint-venture project with Ruf.

Ruf's equity is in the form of the brand name, the know-how, the training from the German technicians (several of the senior ones will be based in Bahrain for some time, training up the locals,) marketing, etc etc, while the local person's equity is the capital needed to fund such a lavish factory.

Again, purely a guess here, but think about the motivations and incentives involved:

Ruf gets funding for a massive and highly impressive facility (that elevates the Ruf name once again as truly a world class tuner/specialist manufacturer,) access to an F1 track for testing, and perhaps most importantly, on-the-ground presence in an incredibly lucrative market.

On the other hand, the Bahraini who is investing in the project probably doesn't really need the money, and would be doing this primarily because he is passionate about the cars (I don't know if this story is apocryphal, but from what I have been told, the guy is a fairly young fellow, and when he was a kid, would call Mr. Ruf long distance, just to talk about the cars). Here he gets the opportunity to be part of the next phase of growth for a company he loves.

Dunno about you guys, but this looks like a real win-win situation in my book!

 

wow that looks pretty intense!!