bizjournals.com
GREATER METROPLEX -- Escondido, Calif.-based Laforza Automobiles Inc. reports it signed a letter of intent with Ferrari/Maserati of Dallas owner Giuseppe Risi to distribute its armored luxury sport-utility vehicles in Dallas, Houston and Mexico.
Although a contract has not been signed, it is being written by Risi's lawyers, said David Hops, CEO of Laforza.
Hops said Risi's first shipment of about 40 SUVs will most likely be directed to the Mexico area. Risi should get about 40 of the new SUVs by October for sale in the Dallas area, he said.
However, it's not clear where they will be sold in the Metroplex because Anthony Nevotti, general manager for Ferrari/Maserati of Dallas, said Risi does not want to sell the cars from a Ferrari facility.
Risi declined comment.
Laforza's only product is an armored SUV that looks similar to the Range Rover. Laforza will build about 600 of its Personal Security Vehicles, with an MSRP of $79,000, by the end of 2003, Hops said.
The body of the PSV comes from the same plant that molds the Ferrari body, Hops said.
-- David Wethe
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