The new Porsche Macan crossover is in such high demand that the entire production slated for the U.S. this year is already sold out. And since customers have to wait more than six months to get their Macans delivered, Porsche Cars North America has figured out a way to keep them happy by offering very short-term leases on Porsche Boxster and Cayman sports cars until their Macans arrive.
“I hate to have customers who don’t know Porsche to visit for the first time a Porsche dealership, prepare to enter the family and then get an answer from the dealer, ‘Oh, yes, we’d love to have you, but you have to wait six or seven months to get your order,’” Porsche Cars North America CEO Detlev von Platen told Autonews.
The executive’s concern is legitimate, as approximately 80 percent of Macans are expected to be sold to first-time Porsche buyers. However, he stressed that the short-term lease program is open to anyone who puts in a firm order for the Macan.
Von Platen said the response to the recently launched program is positive, but it is too early to say how many Porsche Macan buyers are taking short-term leases. These leases are offered at a similar monthly cost to what they would pay for a Macan, which starts at $50,895. The Boxster starts at $52,395, and the Cayman at $53,595 – all prices include shipping.
Porsche sold 1,263 Macans in the U.S. in May, but supply constraints will limit full-year sales in the United States to less than 10,000 in 2014. However, as soon as next year U.S. sales could reach 18,000 units annually.
By Dan Mihalascu
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