Sharjah24 - AFP: On Thursday, the upscale Italian automaker Ferrari announced "excellent" statistics for 2022, including a record net profit and double-digit rise in orders, and forecasted another another banner year.

Ferrari delivered 13,221 units in 2022, up 18.5 percent on the previous year, while net profit rose 12.7 percent to a record 939 million euros, the group said.

Sales rose by 19.3 percent to 5.09 billion euros, as expected, in results that sent Ferrari shares up 5.6 percent in Milan to 243.20 euros.

"Last year ended with outstanding financial results," said Ferrari chief executive Benedetto Vigna.

He added: "These figures provide the base for an even stronger 2023, fuelled by a persistently high demand for our products worldwide."

Sales were driven last year by the Ferrari Portofino M and family SF90 models, the group said.

Ferrari forecast sales will rise to 6.7 billion euros by 2026, which it hopes will be achieved in part through the launch of 15 new models by then.

Europe, the Middle East and Africa remained the main market for the luxury firm in 2022, with almost 5,500 units delivered.

Deliveries rose by 72.6 percent in the mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan region, and by 21.8 percent in the Americas.

Revenues from sponsorship and the brand increased by 11.1 percent to 479 million euros, notably due to the higher ranking of the Ferrari Formula One team.

By contrast, revenue from Ferrari engine sales fell 18 percent to 155 million euros due to lower deliveries to Maserati, ahead of the expiration in 2023 of a contract linking the two groups.

Ferrari, a company known for its roaring, powerful combustion engines, is seeking a switch to electric.

Under its strategic plan unveiled last summer, 100-percent electric and hybrid models should make up 60 percent of its production by 2026, and 80 percent by 2030.