by Large Discounts on Maserati Electric Vehicles
The Italian luxury car manufacturer Maserati has introduced significant discounts on its electric sports models, indicating serious sales problems. The offers apply to coupes, convertibles, and SUVs with electric powertrains.
Brand Sales Crisis
Maserati sales have plummeted this year. Only 5,996 cars were sold in the first nine months, forcing the luxury Italian brand to take desperate measures to stimulate demand and clear dealer inventories.
Stimulating Demand in the American Market
In an attempt to awaken demand, Maserati has introduced significant incentives across the United States, with discounts reaching an impressive $50,000. The largest offers are specifically targeted at the electric range, where demand appears to be significantly below expectations.
Sale of Electric Models
It all starts with the GranTurismo Folgore and GranCabrio Folgore. The standard electric GranTurismo has a starting price of $200,295, while the open-top GranCabrio starts from $209,195. Both models are now eligible for a huge $50,000 incentive on purchase or lease, effectively moving them into a much more affordable price category.
Maserati does also sell the GranTurismo and GranCabrio with the same 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 as the MC20, there are no discounts available for that combustion version. Instead, the discounts are only for the all-electric models, likely because Maserati is struggling to sell them.
Despite three electric motors, all-wheel drive, 751 hp and 996 lb-ft (1,350 Nm) of torque, the Folgore models apparently lack the same animal appeal as the V6 versions.
Discounts on the Electric SUV
The incentives don’t end with the coupes. Maserati has also reduced prices on the Grecale Folgore SUV, which is now offered with a $25,000 discount on both purchase and lease. Buyers opting for leasing can combine the offer with financing at 5.49% APR for 72 months, making it one of the most aggressive deals in the premium electric vehicle market.
For the gasoline-powered Grecale Modena, there is a smaller cash incentive of $3,000, but it pales in comparison to the discount on the electric model.
Technically, the Grecale Folgore uses a 105 kWh battery pack and two motors that produce 550 hp and 605 lb-ft (820 Nm) of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.1 seconds, although its top speed is limited to a modest 137 mph (220 km/h).
Sure, most drivers will never need more (if that) on public roads, but still, the Trident and speed (plus bragging rights that come with it) are supposed to go hand in hand, right?
These unprecedented discounts reflect a broader trend in the premium electric vehicle market, where many manufacturers are facing similar difficulties. Buyers still seem to prefer traditional internal combustion engines in luxury cars, despite the technical advantages of electric versions. The situation with Maserati may become a telling example of how traditional luxury brands are adapting to the electric vehicle revolution, especially when it comes to preserving the emotional component that has always been their hallmark.
