While every other automaker is counting their pennies and cowering in fear as lightning strikes outside the window, Porsche is slugging ahead through the economic tempest.
With a fair amount of justification, Porsche believes its own vehicles too good for incentives; the company is steadfastly refusing to offer incentives on its Boxsters and Caymans despite a 22.8 percent nosedive in sales in October with a 118 day supply of vehicles.
Perhaps it’s not that mad. Porsche’s 2008-model 911s has sold quite steadily, and certified sales are up 20 percent this year from last.
Detlev von Platen, CEO of Porsche Cars North America said, “We will not act differently. We remember what happened 10 and 15 years ago. Acting on a short-term basis is wrong.” He refers to when Porsche did offer incentives and suffered a plunge in residual values.
Being unfazed doesn’t mean a lack of caution, though. Porsche may decide to cut North America production if sales numbers don’t start pulling back up. Von Platen also stated that U.S. allocation could easily be diverted to other, more stable markets, like China, Russia, and the Middle East.
Porsche is moving forward with its four-door Panamera, and the car will roll into dealerships with no delays.
Our take? Whether Porsche is being brave or foolish is the question. Incentives, though, are clearly for lesser vehicles.
via Auto News
LOL
Porsche and incentives? Sounds like water and oil to me.