Continental Cars Ferrari dealership worker issued police warning after wrecking $630k luxury car
Police have issued a formal warning to the driver of a $630,000 Ferrari which failed to give way and crashed outside a luxury vehicle dealership in Auckland.
The Herald understands the high-performance sports car was driven by a staff member at Continental Cars Ferrari at the time of the May 15 crash.
As previously reported, photographs and video in the aftermath of the incident at the Newmarket end of Great South Road showed an early model Toyota Aqua lodged into the right-hand side of a Ferrari with debris scattered across the asphalt.
It can now be revealed that the Aqua was written off in the accident and the Aqua driver suffered a burn injury to his arm.
His employer, MoveLink, said it has contacted the Newmarket dealership to request reimbursement for the wrecked Japanese import, but as of Friday was yet to receive a response.
The 2025 Ferrari 296 (worth $800,000 new) was being advertised for sale as near-new at $629,990.
The Herald understands the vehicle was being marketed by the dealership on behalf of its owner.
The vehicle suffered severe damage in the crash and will need significant and costly repairs.
A nearby worker told the Heraldthe Italian sports car appeared to have exited the dealership on to Great South Rd and attempted to cross three lanes of northbound traffic to turn right into the southbound lane.
The Herald understands one vehicle had slowed to let the Ferrari cross, but the Toyota travelling in the next lane had no time to react as the Ferrari pulled out in front, T-boning the supercar in the middle of the road.
Police initially said they did not attend the accident and were not aware of any injuries, but later confirmed an investigation had been launched and they were speaking to the “relevant parties”.
In a statement last week, a police spokeswoman said no charges had been laid over the crash.
“The driver of the turning vehicle has been given a formal written warning for not giving way and the report has now been filed.”
Police confirmed the turning vehicle was the Ferrari.
A MoveLink spokeswoman told the Herald police had contacted the company and confirmed that the Ferrari driver was responsible for the accident and that the Aqua driver was not at fault.
She said dealership staff sent the MoveLink driver to hospital because he suffered a burned arm in the crash.
He was all right but told the company the accident was “frightening”.
MoveLink was seeking reimbursement for its wrecked Aqua from the dealership or its insurer.
“We have asked Ferrari car insurer to pay our bill. We ask Ferrari manager but he doesn’t answer us yet.”
The Heraldput fresh questions to the dealership on Friday, including whether the Ferrari was insured, who would pay for the damage to both cars, whether the staff member had been subject to disciplinary action, and whether luxury vehicle owners could be confident their valuable cars were in safe hands at the dealership.
Continental Cars declined to comment.
Lane Nichols is Auckland desk editor for the New Zealand Herald with more than 20 years’ experience in the industry.