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Despite Australia’s record-breaking 1 million-car sales this year, Maybach managed to snag exactly zero buyers. To put this in perspective, with a population of approximately 21 million, 1 million cars sold means nearly one in 20, or roughly five percent of Australians bought a car this year alone. It’s probably true that fewer than 1 in 20 Australians could theoretically afford a Maybach, but with not a single car sold, one has to wonder about the viability of the brand - and - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

And it’s not like the million cars sold were all budget-loving economy cars, either. Luxury marques saw rises across the board, from Ferrari’s 43.6 percent increase in sales to Bentley’s 17.6%, expensive cars sold well in Australia this year. Rolls-Royce even managed 17 sales, an increase of 5 over 2006. In fact, Rolls-Royce cars are in such great demand that the factory simply can’t keep up with the demand. So what’s wrong with Maybach?
It could be the excessively gaudy looks - although those who’ve seen the tricked-out tuner Rolls-Royces and Bentleys being offered might disagree - or it could be the staggeringly high price, although again, expensive cars sold wonderfully this year, especially in Australia. So what’s keeping Maybach back? Maybe it’s the fact that the Maybach line is based entirely off of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class - an already stellar vehicle in it’s own right, but hardly in need of a third of a million dollars in chrome, chrome-colored accessories and interior modification. Whatever the reason for the dismal sales, we’re going to go ahead and start preparing our eulogy now.

I can tell them exactly why the Maybach is not selling, it all comes down, purely and simply, to aesthetics.

When I say aesthetics, I am not simply referring to its appearance, but also all the other intangible elements which make somebody prepared to pay an outrageous sum for a Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, or Bentley.

The truth is, the Maybach's aesthetics feel no more exclusive than a fully-spec'd Merc, so why pay all the extra? ....well that's simple too -- Prestige.

Prestige is a very interesting topic, what makes something prestigious: high price?, rarity?, individuality? -- well the Maybach offers all that. The Maybach's greatest problem is its ambiguousness -- many people still do not know what it is when they see one ....and it hardly makes the kind of bold and self-assured impression a Rolls or Bentley makes.

The people who buy these cars are not wanting to hide in the crowd -- these are status symbols, intended to make a big statement; they are not bought for any real practical reasons, people buy them for aspirational, aesthetic, and even pretentious, reasons.

The Maybach has all the right credentials, it has heritage, pedigree, and is built to an uncompromising standard -- but it lacks instant recognizability and the ability to inspire. Without these two essential aspects, it is very difficult to find any real justification for buying a Maybach.

It didn't sell 'cause it's bloody ugly.

Even uglier than the Roller...

Oh no.....what a shame.

M

that just made my day
it's a shame top gear is over, they would have had 20min about this

No ...ugly does sell ....ask BMW

The Maybach doesn't sell because it is not distinctive or aesthetically emotive enough ...that is the bottom line.

hehehe...0, Guess it cant get worse....

but what surprised me was that maybach actually sold 400 maybachs globally in 2007, which is quite alot for this piece of crap.. imo..btw they sold the same amount last year..

atleast the 20 laudulets will boost 2008 sales......

^ Calling it a piece of crap is a bit harsh .....it is certainly not crap.

(That could start a war...)