Now that Maybach’s fate has been sealed, German-owned British luxury brand Bentley is hoping to step in as the default go-to premium brand for the world’s rich and famous (and showy).
Bentley’s CEO says that the company is capitalizing on Daimler’s decision to discontinue its Maybach brand.
“The withdrawal of Maybach is a business opportunity for us and we’re going to use it,” Bentley CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer told Reuters. The news agency indicated that Maybach owners like actor Samuel L. Jackson, rapper Jay-Z and Spanish monarch King Juan Carlos are being approached by Bentley representatives.
Duerheimer said that the Maybach owners say that they “feel left alone” by Daimler’s decision to shutter the brand. VIP-type clients have already been offered tours of Bentley’s Crewe, England, factory.
“I want to create a specific welcome zone inside our brand,” the executive said.
Of course, Maybach’s ultra-premium niche is still a small notch above anything Bentley – or former sibling and now fierce rival Rolls-Royce – has on offer. Maybach’s cheapest model is $380,000 prior to any customization, while the range-topping Bentley Mulsanne lists from $290,000. Maybach also offers its Landaulet convertible for nearly $1.4 million.
Rolls-Royce, meanwhile, says that it will let potential customers make the transition on their own. The automaker will “naturally welcome any current Maybach customers. But seeking them out and hunting them down is not the Rolls-Royce way.
References
1.’Bentley woos Jay-Z…’ view
