Ultra-high residual value, low interest rate products

aim to reduce monthly payment burden

Gaurav Thapa (left), head of Maserati Korea, and Kim Jeong-hyeon, executive vice president of retail sales at Meritz Capital, pose for a photo after signing a financial services MOU. [Maserati Korea]
Gaurav Thapa (left), head of Maserati Korea, and Kim Jeong-hyeon, executive vice president of retail sales at Meritz Capital, pose for a photo after signing a financial services MOU. [Maserati Korea]

Maserati has teamed up with Meritz Capital to launch a dedicated financing product designed to lower monthly payments for vehicle buyers. The program sets a high residual value for vehicles at the end of the contract term to reduce monthly installments, and gives customers the option to keep the vehicle, return it, or trade up to a new Maserati model when the contract expires.

Maserati Korea announced Friday that it had signed a financial services MOU with Meritz Capital.

Under the agreement, the two companies will operate an ultra-high residual value and low interest rate financing program for Maserati customers. Meritz Capital will handle the design and management of the auto financing product, while Maserati will offer the service to customers through its official showrooms.

The centerpiece of the program is the ultra-high residual value product, which sets an elevated end-of-term value for the vehicle.

Residual value refers to the estimated worth of a vehicle after a set period of use. Standard residual-value financing products predetermine the vehicle's value at the end of the contract and calculate monthly payments based on the remaining amount after that value is subtracted.

Under this structure, even if two vehicles carry the same price, setting a higher residual value at contract end reduces the monthly payment. The two companies plan to apply low interest rates on top of that to further ease the financial burden on customers.

Once the contract ends, customers can choose to purchase the vehicle outright or return it, depending on their circumstances. They may also opt to trade in for a new Maserati model.

The financing program applies to the Grecale SUV, the high-performance grand tourer GranTurismo, and the open-top convertible GranCabrio.

Given that the high price of luxury vehicles can make upfront costs and monthly payments a burden for consumers, Maserati said it intends to diversify purchasing options through financing products.

Meritz Capital's experience in the premium import vehicle financing market will be used to offer products tailored to each customer's purchase plan and intended period of ownership. The companies also plan to provide end-to-end service covering vehicle consultation, contract signing, and delivery through to the expiration of the financing contract.

Maserati plans to run the new financing program alongside its existing warranty and maintenance services.

Grecale buyers currently receive a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty and a three-year maintenance program as standard. The strategy is to reduce the financial burden at the point of purchase and the upkeep burden during ownership.

Maserati has also been working to strengthen the price competitiveness of the Grecale in the domestic market. The 2026 Grecale, introduced in October last year, features a price cut of up to 7 percent compared with the previous model along with enhanced convenience features.

The brand has also been expanding its domestic sales and service network. In September, it opened a new showroom in Haeundae, Busan — the largest in the Yeongnam region — and expanded vehicle consultation and test-drive services for local customers.

The MOU with Meritz Capital is part of a broader push to grow Maserati's customer base by reducing not only vehicle prices and running costs but also the financing burden that arises during the purchase process.

"This MOU was established to deliver a brand experience that is truly worthy of Italian luxury at every stage — from purchase to ownership," said Gaurav Thapa, head of Maserati Korea. "Drawing on Meritz Capital's expertise, we aim to lower the burden and broaden the options, so that more customers can experience the Maserati lifestyle."


kwater@heraldcorp.com