Rolls-Royce, the renowned luxury car manufacturer, has made a decisive move to combat a growing trend in the industry. The company has declared that it will not tolerate buyers who purchase their vehicles solely for profit, commonly known as car flippers. In an effort to maintain the exclusivity and integrity of their brand, Rolls-Royce has taken a firm stance and plans to permanently blacklist anyone attempting to flip their Rolls-Royce Spectre EV for profit.
The CEO of Rolls-Royce, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, emphasized the seriousness of this policy in an interview with Car Dealer magazine. Müller-Ötvös stated unequivocally, “They’re going immediately on a blacklist, and this is it—you will never ever have the chance to acquire again.” Rolls-Royce is not the first luxury car brand to express frustration with car flippers. Back in 2017, Porsche GT boss Andreas Preuninger voiced his disapproval of customers treating their cars as mere investments instead of vehicles meant to enjoyed on the open road.
This strong stance by Rolls-Royce is part of a larger movement within the automotive industry. General Motors (GM), for example, recently announced penalties for customers who flip the coveted Corvette Z06. These penalties include the removal of certain warranties if the car sold within a year, as well as disqualification from securing allocations for future GM vehicles. While these measures aim to discourage car flipping, they have raised concerns among high-end car dealers who rely on buying and selling rare, high-value vehicles for profit.
Not everyone thrilled about Rolls-Royce’s new policy. Prominent UK supercar dealer Tom Hartley expressed his opposition, particularly regarding the impact on customers who have invested significant sums of money in their cars. Hartley stated his displeasure, saying, “I have already agreed to buy two Spectres from customers. I do not think it is fair for car makers to tell customers who have spent close to half a million pounds on a car what they can do with it.”
Rolls-Royce’s decision to implement a lifetime blacklisting of car flippers represents a strong commitment to its brand and its loyal customers. While it may spark debate within the industry, the luxury car manufacturer hopes that this bold move will deter those seeking to profit from their vehicles and preserve the exclusivity of the Rolls-Royce driving experience.