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Maserati US Sales Increase 341% YoY in March

5959 Views 15 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  svelte
Yeow!

Looks like the Ghibli gamble is paying off for Maserati!

March 2014: Better Weather Is On The Horizon Edition - Autoblog
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That's honestly not shocking at all considering a brand like Maserati put out a car starting in the $50's. The gamble lies in what that'll do to the brands exotic cachet going forward.
That's honestly not shocking at all considering a brand like Maserati put out a car starting in the $50's. The gamble lies in what that'll do to the brands exotic cachet going forward.
exactly. that's what im worried about too.. realistically, the brand is going to lose some of its exotic cachet.. now with the 'relatively' affordable ghibli.. it's still going to be a more exotic brand than the bmw's, mercedes, and audis out there, but no doubt its gonna be relatively common on the road (especially with the levante and new GT coming out soon also).

i would equate the brand to porsche in terms of exclusivity.. (you can get a porsche boxter for 50k).. i think eventually that's where maserati will end up.. a premium italian brand with a sexy brand name, but its not going to be a rare sight as it was before.. which in a way is a shame.. ive always been opposed to maserati coming out with the ghibli base model.. the S or SQ4 model should be the standard model
exactly. that's what im worried about too.. realistically, the brand is going to lose some of its exotic cachet.. now with the 'relatively' affordable ghibli.. it's still going to be a more exotic brand than the bmw's, mercedes, and audis out there, but no doubt its gonna be relatively common on the road (especially with the levante and new GT coming out soon also).

i would equate the brand to porsche in terms of exclusivity.. (you can get a porsche boxter for 50k).. i think eventually that's where maserati will end up.. a premium italian brand with a sexy brand name, but its not going to be a rare sight as it was before.. which in a way is a shame.. ive always been opposed to maserati coming out with the ghibli base model.. the S or SQ4 model should be the standard model
Definitely, and agreed. Though, the Boxster does start at similar pricing, I think it retains more "exclusivity" merely due to its nature making it a car that won't sell like crazy, regardless of price. The Ghibli is a much more conventional and utilitarian car, so if well received by the market, can really start chipping away at that Maserati exclusivity factor.

I hate to say it, but we've seen this story so many times before. Boutique brand builds cachet by making aspirational cars, then a corporation acquires or "saves" them, corporate greed ensues, corporation wants little brand to milk its cachet for all its worth. Then they put out an uncharacteristically cost-cutted and mass market product compared to what they had before, cut their entry price in half, sales soar, more greed kicks in, one SUV comes out, every desperate housewife and soccer mom flock to it, another SUV, then another, then they think "wow, what 'cachet' was it that made this brand what it is in the first place?.... Screw it, we've lost track, let's just turn it into a mass market manufacturer with a couple Sports Cars to fill the guise of "still catering to our roots", therefore a Sedan that starts in the high $20's or low $30's is on the horizon, and now you have sales that have soared thousands of percents, but essentially just another brand that has had its soul stripped out and has more SUV's than enthusiast models. Sounds like Mercedes and BMW to me.

I'll admit I was never necessarily an enthusiast towards Maserati's, they kind of flew under my radar, even though I did get an early personal glimpse at them from my Uncle's 80's QP (the big, cool, supremely unreliable boxy one with the intoxicatingly Italian smelling leather that's missing from the Ghibli), but I really hope this doesn't happen to them. Some things have to remain sacred for f's sake.
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Big stretch to go from Maserati to MB and BMW levels........and look at the production levels even at their peak predicted and Maserati will not lose its exclusivity.......go look at the thread on exclusivity.....I think Maserati is more on par with Porsche which while there is more on the road is still an exclusive car.........could Maserati have nine or ten or 15 models with umpteen variations......maybe but it would take a long time.........a very long time and I personally do not think they could get there........they say they also do not want to go there so we will see.
I don't think MB and BMW are fair comparisons.

I think Maserati is closer to Jaguar in pricing, model range, and sales (look at the link I sent).

Even here in SoCal, I still don't see an XF (Ghibli's closest Jag competition) every day. I'm lucky to see one every week or two.

So rest easy folks. Our exclusivity will remain intact at least for a few more years and probably longer.

I started watching Maserati about 5 years ago, when I started attending Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and falling in love with their classic pre 1980s offerings. We tossed about the idea of getting a QP since then but could never convince ourselves to put up that much money on rolling metal. So the Ghibli is perfect timing for us.

Will Maserati lose a little of its cache by coming under $100K now? Certainly, but that's not the reason we bought it.

I bought it because it is basically a work of art on wheels that thrills me every time I walk out to it, every time I start it up, and every time I drive it. All three of those things brings a little tingle to me that not many cars can.

We wanted a luxurious sporty car and this certainly fits the bill.

So feel free to lament the loss of some exclusivity, but also remember that coming in under $100K is why many of you are able to put one in your driveway.
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I bought it because it is basically a work of art on wheels that thrills me every time I walk out to it, every time I start it up, and every time I drive it. All three of those things brings a little tingle to me that not many cars can.
...ahh, you just gotta luv Italian designers and engineers. And that engine is a giant plus as well!
That's honestly not shocking at all considering a brand like Maserati put out a car starting in the $50's. The gamble lies in what that'll do to the brands exotic cachet going forward.
Really?
Can you point me where they are selling in $50's?
If this is true, I definitely overpaid by far. I could have bought 2 instead of 1 by spending just 10k more.
That's honestly not shocking at all considering a brand like Maserati put out a car starting in the $50's. The gamble lies in what that'll do to the brands exotic cachet going forward.
Where are you coming up with a starting price of $50's? They start at $67K and you would be very hard pressed to find a car or even order a custom car for under $70K. A brand with a starting price of $70K to $200K over only 3 models is pretty exclusive especially when considering the average car sells for $25K.

Now throw in the volume compared to Porsche sales…

162,000+ units in the world-wide vs. Maserati selling 15,400 units WORLD-WIDE.

This year Maserati should sell 25,000 units world-wide with 8,000 units from the US. Porsche is projecting sales of 180,000 units world-wide and 45,000 units for the US.

Even with the launch of the Levante, Maserati will remain far more exclusive then Porsche who sells 5 times Maserati, and way way way more exclusive then BMW, Mercedes or Audi who sell 10 times what Maserati does.
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My bad, I confused the starting price. It starts in $60's, and they are indeed very attainable in the $60's. Not only do dealers actually have some base-base models on lots, but the discounts are already starting to pile up, and will further, especially as Fiat Group get the taste of blood in terms of YOY growth, so you can expect to get cars stickering well in the $70's for $60's.
My bad, I confused the starting price. It starts in $60's, and they are indeed very attainable in the $60's. Not only do dealers actually have some base-base models on lots, but the discounts are already starting to pile up, and will further, especially as Fiat Group get the taste of blood in terms of YOY growth, so you can expect to get cars stickering well in the $70's for $60's.
I have seen MSRP's in the low $70Ks but not in the $60k's. Given the base price is $67K plus $1000 destination you are at $68K starting MSRP.

If you're speaking in terms of attainability it is a complete separate discussion as you can get a $85K Mercedes for $78k….same with a Maserati. This is very normal.

Compared to Porsche, you can buy a Cayenne, Macan, Boxster and Cayman all starting at $50K give or take $2K. Maserati is and will remain much more exclusive then Porsche. As an example I see a few 911s, at least one Cayman or Boxster, a few Panamera and tons of Cayennes every day; I rarely see a Maserati on the road…maybe one a week.
I am in NJ and work in NYC and have only seen 3 all in NJ in the last six months........a real event!!!
I live in central PA and have not seen one this year locally. I have seen a white Ghibli twice in NJ over the last month.

Other than that this car has drawn lots of stares and attention where ever I have taken it due to its rareness in the area. I suspect I will become an indirect salesman for these cars and eventually start to see a few more.

Taking an informal visual poll; 3 Porsches, 6 BMW's, 5 Audi's and 1 Jaguar, (my wife) in parking lot at work plus my Ghibli (on sunny days):).
I live in NE Ohio, and the only other Maserati I see is a Grand Turismo a friend has.
I live in Denver, CO, and I haven't seen a single Ghibli here for my last 4 months of ownership. Yes, I've seen other Maserati like the new Quattroporte and GT couple of times.
People take photos and give thumbs up every day.
If this keeps up, we may start seeing price increases.

April 18, 2014

“According to Automotive News, citing an interview given by Maserati chief Harald Wester on Bloomberg Television, the brand has been getting 3,500 orders per month, putting it on track to sell 42,000 units this year – nearly three times as much as the 15,400 it sold in 2013. The profits generated off those orders could be enough by themselves to offset the losses which Fiat is expected to record this year based on flagging sales for the Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Jeep brands in Europe.”

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/04/18/maserati-alfieri-production-strong-sales-report/

Maserati had expected to sell 50K in 2015, after introduction of the Levante SUV. If they are hitting 42K now before the Levante starts production, they are WELL above their goal! :)
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