This First Edition model costs more than $18,000 above MSRP
The new-vehicle market is being affected by the ongoing chip shortage. Dealerships across the country are reporting low inventories and consumers are eager to drive their new cars. As of late, we’ve seen a lot of high-demand cars being marked up by dealerships. The Ford Bronco, Mustang Mach-E often see massive price increases when they arrive at the showroom. And the Mercedes-Benz EqS are just a few examples. The Kia EV6 is now available at dealerships. This electric crossover already has its own markups. McGrath Arlington Kia, Palatine, Illinois has a brand new EV6 First Edition in their showroom. The final asking price is $78,875. This is nearly $19,000 more than the MSRP suggested for the First Edition model.
Anthony Fongaro, an auto journalist, saw the EV6 in the showroom and snapped a photo. He then posted the image on Facebook. The photo shows a $12,000 dealer market adjustment – for the First Edition model. It also includes a vague “interior Protection Pack” that costs $3995 and a $2,495 “pro pack”. We reached McGrath Arlington Kia, and Chris Duplanchic, the Sales Manager, gave us a more detailed explanation of the markup.
“Because these cars are very rare, they are almost irreplaceable… we shop around at other Kia shops to ensure that the premium is fair… and, on top of all that, it is a First Edition car. It is a limited production.” The EV6 First edition is one of few that we could locate that had not been sold via initial order (unless this car was pre-ordered by the dealership). Only 1,500 First Edition models are available for the 2022 model years. This is likely to contribute to the markup. All cars that were ordered after June 2021 were promptly accounted for. When reached for comment, a Kia spokesperson said that although dealers are independent businesses but they must price fairly and ensure customer satisfaction during the entire purchase process.