Seems like the recession isn’t hitting just common people, but is also affecting the market for $200,000-plus supercars. One such example is the Rapide, Aston Martin’s sports sedan, whose sales are falling way off initial expectations.
According to media reports, the British carmaker is cutting back production of the Rapide to 25 cars per week, which translates to 1,250 per year, or 750 less than initial estimates.
Take into consideration that Aston Martin’s total annual production hovers around the 8,000 mark, and you can easily understand how the Rapide’s poor sales are affecting the British manufacturer.
Maybe that’s why, earlier this year, Aston Martin announced that it is moving production of the Rapide from the Magna Steyer facility to its own plant in Gaydon, where most of its models are manufactured.
Perhaps the rumored Rapide S will help the model achieve its goals –or it may just be that even four-door supercar buyers are content with much cheaper alternatives such as the Porsche Panamera, the Mercedes-Benz CLS and Maserati’s Quattroporte.
Via Autocar
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