Stellantis is exploring a partnership with Chinese companies to save Maserati

Maserati was excluded from Stellantis’ major event last spring. However, the brand isn’t abandoned, and decisions regarding its future are about to be announced. The fate of Maserati is likely to be decided in China.

Maserati aimed to compete with Porsche. In 2018, after a record year with nearly 50,000 vehicles sold, FCA still aspired to exceed 100,000 units by 2022. By 2025, only about 10,000 Maserati vehicles were sold worldwide.

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For Stellantis, it is impossible to abandon Maserati. It’s a matter of image and strategy. But given the group’s current situation, it is also impossible to fund the development of models capable of competing in the luxury segment. Solving this dilemma will require a partnership. And since Stellantis clearly has many Chinese friends, it will be a new Chinese partnership.

As mentioned last spring, Huawei is likely to step in, along with JAC Motors. According to the Italian newspaper Milano Finanza, discussions are quite advanced. They are expected to lead to the launch by 2027 of a vehicle jointly developed by Maserati and the Chinese brand Maextro. To preserve the reputation of the Trident, final assembly would still take place in Italy.

We still do not know what type of vehicle it will be. Two options are possible. Next year, Maextro must add two models to its catalog. The first is a sedan slightly smaller than the S800 limousine, which could thus become a new Quattroporte. The second is a luxury SUV that would replace the Levante. In both cases, they will be electric vehicles that may offer range extenders. Ironically, the Volkswagen Group owns over 50% of JAC Motors...