Stellantis Ends Maserati's Prospects After Scrapping $1.6 Billion Investment | Carscoops

      Stellantis' decision jeopardizes the future of electric models such as the MC20 Folgore and the upcoming replacements for the Quattroporte and Levante.

      The company has confirmed that this decision will result in the cancellation of certain projects.

      Last year, Maserati's sales plummeted by 50%, dropping from 26,600 in 2023 to just 11,300.

      The FIM trade union in Italy is seeking clarification regarding Maserati's future from Stellantis.

      The future of the all-electric Maserati MC20, as well as electric versions of the Quattroporte and Levante, is uncertain after Stellantis, its parent company, abandoned a planned €1.5 billion ($1.57 billion at current exchange rates) investment in the Italian brand. This decision comes at a particularly challenging time for Maserati, which has been facing declining sales and significant financial losses.

      During a recent earnings call, Stellantis’ chief financial officer Doug Ostermann confirmed that the €1.5 billion investment in Maserati had been canceled. Financial reports indicate this will result in "the cancellation of certain projects prior to launch," though details on these projects were not disclosed; however, the electric MC20 Folgore is expected to be among them.

      As reported by Autocar, Ostermann mentioned that the conglomerate needs to reassess the timeline for Maserati’s upcoming product launches. “We must acknowledge the evolving dynamics in that business, particularly in the Chinese market, and our expectations regarding the pace of the luxury market's shift to electrification,” he stated.

      For Maserati to have any chance of survival, it requires both funding and appealing new models. Last year, it incurred a loss of €260 million ($271 million), with global sales crashing from 26,600 units to just 11,300 in 2024. With funding now withdrawn, the future of the electric Quattroporte and Levante looks uncertain.

      The Union Responds

      Italy's influential FIM trade union has promptly called for answers from Stellantis. The union is seeking clarity about Maserati’s future ahead of a meeting on March 11. “Maserati represents one of the most critical situations,” stated FIM General Secretary Ferdinando Uliano. “Despite offering quality and high-performance models, the brand suffers from mismanagement in its marketing efforts. Time is of the essence.”

      A New CEO, a New Strategy?

      In the meantime, Stellantis is searching for a new CEO following Carlos Tavares' unexpected departure in December. The incoming leader may face the tough challenge of deciding which brands will continue to operate and which will be phased out. It remains unclear if Maserati will survive this review process; however, if the brand’s future hinges on a single question—“Do we need another Italian luxury car brand that struggles to sell cars?”—it’s difficult to envision a positive outcome for Maserati. We can only hope for a turnaround.