Grammy-Award winning musician Black Coffee wins legal battle against Maserati South Africa

Grammy Award-winning South African DJ and record producer Black Coffee, whose real name is Nkosinathi Maphumulo, has secured a major legal victory against Maserati South Africa after the Johannesburg High Court ordered the luxury car manufacturer to pay R7 million ($437,136) to his company, Soulistic Music, over a disputed vehicle purchase. 

Acting Judge Sanet van Aswegen granted summary judgment in favour of Soulistic Music, bringing a decisive turn in the dispute over the purchase of a customised Maserati MC20 Cielo.

The court also ordered Maserati to pay interest at 10.5% annually from August 22, 2025, until the full amount is settled, as well as the legal costs of the proceedings.

Dispute centres on customised Maserati purchase

Black Coffee had sought a refund after arguing Maserati failed to meet an agreed July 2025 delivery deadline for the new vehicle in a dispute which arose after Black Coffee decided to upgrade from an MC20 Coupe he had purchased from Maserati in 2022 for R7 million ($437,136).

About 2 years later, he agreed to purchase an MC20 Cielo from the dealership for R9 million ($562,005). According to his court papers, Maserati offered R7 million ($437,136) as the trade-in value for his existing vehicle, leaving him with a R2 million ($124,901) balance to pay when the new car was delivered. Black Coffee said the agreement was partly written and partly oral and included 18 specifications for the customised vehicle.

These included a Sonus Faber premium sound system with 12 speakers, Maserati Blu Infinito exterior paint, specific wheels with a glossy black diamond-cut finish, and full leather and Alcantara interiors featuring custom stitching and a chevron design.

Maserati disputes delivery deadline

Black Coffee said the dealership informed him on June 3, 2025, that the vehicle would only be sent into production in August and that there was no estimated delivery date, a development he termed a breach of the agreement and instructed Maserati to cancel the transaction and refund the R7 million ($437,136) trade-in amount.

The following day, the dealership informed him that it had secured a production slot for his customised order and said the vehicle would enter production in August, with further details to be confirmed closer to the time.

Black Coffee remained dissatisfied and subsequently followed up with the dealership over repayment of the R7 million ($437,136). He argued that Maserati had failed, neglected or refused to return the money despite his demand.

Luxury carmaker challenges agreement

Maserati denied that July 2025 had been agreed as the delivery deadline and argued that Maphumulo had not completed the confirmation of the vehicle’s customised specifications. The company told the court that production of a customised MC20 Cielo requires at least nine months from confirmation of the specifications.

Maserati also argued that Black Coffee had selected additional customisations for the exterior, interior, interior trims, seat belts and brake callipers that were not included in the original quotation.

The manufacturer said those specifications still required confirmation, approval by its head office and the establishment of an estimated delivery date because each vehicle is custom-built.

Maserati therefore maintained that it had not breached the agreement. The company further argued that the R7 million trade-in value was dependent on Maphumulo proceeding with the purchase of the new vehicle.

Court orders Maserati to pay R7 million ($437,136)

Despite Maserati’s defence, the Johannesburg High Court granted summary judgment in favour of Soulistic Music.

The order requires Maserati South Africa to pay R7 million ($437,136), together with interest calculated at 10.5% a year from August 22, 2025, until the amount is paid in full. Maserati was also ordered to cover the legal costs of the proceedings.

The court order did not provide detailed reasons for the decision, but the judgment represents a significant victory for Black Coffee in his dispute with the luxury automotive brand.