Electric power should be the ultimate match for ultra-luxury motoring. On paper, nothing suits a Rolls-Royce, Bentley, or Maybach better than smooth, silent propulsion and torque-rich acceleration.

These are brands built on quietness, presence, and seamless power delivery, the very same traits electric vehicles seem born to provide better than any V12 ever has. In theory, this should be a golden era for the top of the market.

Review: The Rolls-Royce Spectre Is The Ultimate EV Right Now

Wealthy owners don’t worry about range, rarely road-trip their cars across states, and often have multiple vehicles (and dedicated home charging) to rotate through. So why is it that the first wave of ultra-luxury EVs is landing with a thud on the used market?

The clearest example of this is the Rolls-Royce Spectre. It’s elegant, impeccably built, and quieter than basically everything else in their lineup. Despite that, resale values are cratering faster than it can rocket from 0 to 60.

Are Rich Buyers Backing Off?

Take, for instance, the Spectre listed on Bring a Trailer early last year. With only 99 miles on the odometer and the added appeal of being a “Launch Package” edition, it failed to meet reserve with a high bid of just $451,000. That might sound like a lot, but its MSRP was $521,650.

This week, we also spotted two low-mileage, certified pre-owned examples at a Rolls-Royce Boston dealership, each listed with six-figure discounts off their original MSRP! Don’t get us wrong, no luxury car (outside of hypercars) is going to maintain perfect value.

Rolls-Royce Motorcars Boston

But together, these two Spectres from Herb Chambers originally carried a combined sticker price of $1,064,725. The lower-mileage example, showing just over 2,100 miles, is listed at $385,575, or $136,000 below its original MSRP of $521,575.

The other Spectre, with only 3,822 miles on the odometer, is priced at $385,150, reflecting a massive $158,000 drop from its $543,150 MSRP from about a year ago. That’s enough to buy a brand-new Porsche 911 Carrera T ($143,700) and still have money left over for something else.

More: Someone Drove This Maserati 255 Miles And Lost Almost $100,000

Which circles us back to the broader question. Why is it that wealthy buyers are steering clear of super-luxury EVs like the Spectre? Does it come down to tradition and the desire for a classic internal combustion powertrain like a V12 powerhouse?

Is infrastructure anxiety still a factor, even at the top end of the market? Or maybe some buyers simply haven’t driven them enough (or at all) to realize just how rewarding they really are. We’re curious what you think. Let us know in the comments below.

Rolls-Royce Motorcars Boston

One would think Rolls-Royce would be the last carmaker on Earth to dabble in discounts, yet even it has waded into the current EV incentive wave. With federal tax credits now expired in the US – and yes, those applied to all leased EVs, foreign or not, the brand is dangling a $5,000 lease credit on the Spectre.

Review: The Rolls-Royce Spectre Is The Ultimate EV Right Now

Given the car’s $422,000 starting price, the gesture borders on comic relief. The discount feels more like a voucher toward optional extras than any real saving.

Most Rolls-Royce buyers already pour considerable sums into personalizing their cars, a habit that has long been a reliable source of profit for the BMW-owned marque.

According to Cars Direct, the incentive appeared in a recent dealer bulletin distributed by Rolls-Royce. It applies to 2025 and 2026 model-year Spectres leased through November 30.

More: This Exclusive Rolls-Royce Was 100 Years In The Making

The brand has quietly trimmed the lease offer from $7,500 to $5,000, with financing carrying an effective interest rate of about 4.6 percent APR.

Even with the credit, the U.S.-spec Spectre still costs more than it did during the now-ended $7,500 federal EV tax credit. That benefit, like the current lease credit, never extended to those who purchased the car outright.

The all-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre has been part of the lineup since 2023 and now comes in two versions. The base car produces 577 hp (430 kW / 584 PS), while the Black Badge version pushes output to 650 hp (485 kW / 659 PS), making it the most powerful model from Goodwood to date. Both use a 120 kWh battery, providing up to 266 miles (428 km) of range on 23-inch wheels.

Other Discounted EVs By High-End Brands

While a $5,000 reduction on a Rolls-Royce is unlikely to sway potential buyers, other luxury automakers are showing far more enthusiasm when it comes to incentives.

Maserati, for instance, has rolled out a substantial $50,000 offer for anyone purchasing or leasing the GranTurismo and GranCabrio Folgore, along with a $25,000 discount on the Grecale Folgore SUV.

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Aston Martin, meanwhile, is looking to clear excess inventory in the U.S., introducing a round of incentives across its lineup despite not having a single EV in showrooms.

The reductions are $15,000 for the Vanquish, $12,000 for the DBX 707, $10,000 for the DB12, and $7,000 for the Vantage. These offers apply to both purchases and leases.