Prices Cut On The M500, Matrix In Anticipation Of M600 Certification

Piper Aircraft has announced the repositioning of the M-Class product line in anticipation of the certification of the M600 (pictured), which is expected to take place in Q3 of this year.

As part of the product repositioning, Piper Aircraft has reduced the price of the M500 from $2.264M to $1.99M. Additionally the newly upgraded executive interior will be a standard feature on each M500 and includes a new color palette - Inverness.

The recently announced Hartzell 5-blade composite prop will also be an option for all factory produced M500 aircraft. The M500 turbine business aircraft with the latest in Garmin avionics and advanced safety features (enhanced autopilot flight control system with stability protection) is now better positioned to offer the market a true entry level turbo prop.

In addition to the M500 repositioning, Piper announced that the Matrix price point has been adjusted from $939,950 to $899,000. The price reduction was designed to help customers "step-in" to the Piper M-class family at a more competitive price point.

The M350 (pictured) for 2016 will offer the re-designed executive interior as an option in two color palettes: Inverness and Wellington. Additionally, as announced last year, the aircraft features the new Garmin G1000 avionics suite that includes high resolution dual 10-inch PFDs and a high resolution 12-inch MFD as well as the latest Garmin Software upgrade along with a GFC700 autopilot with enhanced Autopilot Flight Control System (AFCS). The M350 is the only aircraft in its class with AFCS which offers industry leading safety features like, under speed protection, coupled go-around, level mode, emergency descent mode, and electronic stability protection (ESP).

"Our goal was to create price spacing between the products that would support the optimal step-up structure as well as a seamless transition. Furthermore, the team spent a great deal of time developing equipment lists, options, and packaging to further differentiate each product within the M-class family," said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott. "As part of our on-going product improvement initiatives, we saw an opportunity to provide our customers the best value proposition for each product while differentiating each aircraft in the lineup. This approach gives the customer a reason to step-up from one M-class product to another as their needs and experience dictates."

(Source: Piper news release. Images from file)

FMI: www.piper.com