Lamborghini Dealer Accused of Secretly Selling Cars to Unauthorized Buyers
A high-stakes legal dispute has emerged in the exclusive world of luxury automobiles, as Italian supercar manufacturer Lamborghini has initiated legal proceedings against one of its North American dealers. The automaker alleges that Gold Coast Exotic Imports, based in Chicago, engaged in illicit sales practices, secretly diverting premium vehicles to unauthorized third-party brokers rather than legitimate customers. This alleged scheme reportedly allowed the dealership to unjustly accumulate over $4 million in performance bonuses from Lamborghini, while circumventing established sales protocols. The dealership, however, vehemently disputes these claims, framing the lawsuit as a strategic maneuver by Lamborghini to remove its long-serving president and avoid outstanding financial obligations related to dealership enhancements and marketing support.
The core of Lamborghini's legal action centers on accusations that Gold Coast Exotic Imports bypassed the brand's stringent distribution rules. In the North American market, Lamborghini operates through independent dealerships, which are tasked with direct sales to end-users. The lawsuit contends that in 2023 alone, Gold Coast sold at least 32 vehicles, including a $600,000+ Lamborghini Revuelto, to individuals who were merely fronts for undisclosed brokers. These alleged phantom buyers included a Minnesota chiropractor and a former professional athlete, while the ultimate recipients were reportedly third-party dealers, some with dubious financial histories, including one who had previously faced charges for money laundering involving luxury vehicles. Lamborghini asserts that these transactions were deliberately camouflaged to appear as standard retail sales, thereby deceiving the manufacturer about the true ownership of the vehicles.
Further compounding the allegations, Lamborghini claims that Gold Coast demanded illicit upfront payments, sometimes as much as $150,000, from prospective buyers eager to expedite their acquisition of highly coveted, limited-edition models, such as the Sterrato. Meanwhile, unaware of these purported under-the-table dealings, Lamborghini continued to reward the Chicago dealership with substantial performance-based incentives, totaling over $4 million. In its defense, Gold Coast Exotic Imports has lodged counterclaims, arguing that Lamborghini owes it more than $400,000 for unfulfilled reimbursements related to showroom upgrades and marketing initiatives. The dealership's management also suggested that the lawsuit is a thinly veiled attempt by Lamborghini to force out its 81-year-old president, Joseph Perillo Sr., whom the automaker allegedly considered "too old" and "too difficult to deal with."
This ongoing legal battle resonates deeply within the high-end automotive sector, where genuine enthusiasts often contend with exorbitant prices and extended waiting periods for rare models. The alleged practice of dealerships engaging in backdoor sales with resellers not only creates a perception of unfairness but also potentially damages the brand's integrity and exclusivity. Lamborghini's decisive move to sue one of its own authorized dealers marks a significant moment, potentially influencing future strategies for how luxury automakers manage the distribution and sales of their highly sought-after vehicles. While settlement negotiations are currently underway, should they fail, the case is slated for trial in December 2026. Regardless of the outcome, this public dispute offers an unprecedented glimpse into the often-opaque practices surrounding the sale of the world's most exclusive automobiles.