Ferrari, Maserati shut down Italian plants after quake

May 30, 2012 11:43 AM EDT | Judith Davis

Luxury car makers in Italy take the necessary precautions after the 5.8-magnitude earthquake that rumbled across northern Italy earler today, killing at least 15. The quake also struck in the heart of Italy's industrial automaking region causing damage and resulting in the shut down of plants. 

Fiat-owned Ferrari, based in Maranello near Modena, and sister brand Maserati shut down their factories consecutively Fiat Chairman John Elkann said, according to Bloomberg News. Motorcycle maker Ducati, also based in the region, sent a Twitter message that it, too, had halted operations for the moment.  

Although it is normal for Italy to see hundreds of small tremors a year, this one was particularly damaging to businessed. It comes just after another big one earlier this month. Among the victims of that incident was a commodity that is safe to say much of the world may value even more than Ferraris or Maseratis and that is: Parmesan cheese.

Reports according to Bloomberg say: "The damage included the death of animals trapped in the rubble, the destruction of farm equipment and buildings and damage to 400,000 wheels of the country's prized Parmesan cheese. A 39-kilo wheel of the cheese aged for 24 months can retail for more than 700 euros," or almost $900.

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