Kia sellers are already gouging away on EV9 electrical SUV costs

Value gouging has already hit one of the anticipated new EVs of the 12 months—the 2024 Kia EV9.

CarsDirect stories that nationwide vendor stock information at present exhibits EV9 markups of as much as $7,000 over MSRP. One dealership confirmed to the web site that each EV9 on its lot had a $7,000 markup, in actual fact. One other marketed what was successfully a $4,995 markup, making an attempt to cross wires with a $3,750 Kia Buyer Money rebate supply (which comes from Kia, not the dealership).

2024 Kia EV9 markups at Kia Downtown Los Angeles, February 2024

It additionally did not take Inexperienced Automotive Reviews lengthy to see this in a fast survey of dealerships. For instance. Kia Downtown Los Angeles seems to be conserving the $3,750 Buyer Money supply, whereas including $5,000 to the worth. In that case, that is a markup of $8,750 altogether. 

Markups aren’t uncommon for in-demand new fashions, however that is occurring regardless of Kia’s efforts to stop worth gouging. Based on CarsDirect, the automaker beforehand despatched a letter to sellers asking them to not add markups over MSRP, and “even provided to pay sellers $2,000 for each EV9 supply that went easily.”

2024 Kia EV9

Kia beforehand mentioned that it was taking particular measures with its dealerships on EV9 reservations and gross sales so as to not repeat what occurred with the EV6 launch—however apparently sellers did not get the memo. When the EV6 and associated Hyundai Ioniq 5 first got here out, it was simpler to get an EV6. That wasn’t due to much less worth gouging, however due to a wider rollout plan. 

Inexperienced Automotive Reviews has reached out to Kia for the standing of that settlement, and for context on which sorts of markups are thought of acceptable.

Let’s hope Kia can ramp up EV9 manufacturing in Georgia—and provide—fast sufficient in order to not bitter prospects on what’s in any other case among the finest new EVs of the 12 months.