Report: Maserati Under Threat of Being Sold by Parent Company
According to a new report published by Reuters, the storied Italian performance powerhouse, Maserati, may be headed toward an uncertain future. The newswire states that "two sources familiar with the matter" told them that parent company Stellantis is exploring a potential sale of the Trident as part of a broader review of its massive portfolio of 14 distinct automotive brands.
Discussions regarding Maserati began before Antonio Filosa was named the automaker's new CEO last month. Filosa's first day as CEO of Stellantis is Monday, June 23, where he will take the helm as Carlos Tavares's formal successor. Tavares, who led Stellantis from its inception, stepped down in December amid disappointing U.S. sales and inventory struggles and growing internal and external pressure to reassess the company's direction.
Stellantis Chairman John Elkann has a plate and a half full when it comes to overseeing the company's wide range of global brands, which include the likes of Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Peugeot, and Alfa Romeo. The company is under pressure to streamline its operations and invest wisely. Stellantis is a publicly traded company listed on the stock exchanges of New York, Paris, and Milan, and financially savvy investors and analysts think that trimming down the 14-brand lineup could boost Stellantis' margins.
Back in April, they brought in McKinsey & Co., a consulting firm based in New York, to examine the impact of new U.S. tariffs and explore options for Maserati and Alfa Romeo. According to the sources cited by Reuters, selling one or both brands is on the table, but any decisions are still in the early phases. In an emailed statement to Autoblog, a Maserati spokesperson provided the following statement: "A spokesperson for Stellantis stated: 'Respectfully, Maserati is not for sale.'" Additionally, a McKinsey spokesperson told Autoblog in a separate emailed statement that they "have no comment for this story."
The timing of the Trident's review coincides with its efforts to position itself to navigate some significant industry challenges. Chinese brands and their affordable, tech-forward offerings are eating into the European market share. Like other European automakers, Stellantis is also trying to navigate the steep U.S. import tariffs recently imposed by President Donald Trump, which can greatly impact import brands like Maserati and the expensive motors it imports in smaller numbers.
Unlike Stellantis brands like Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler, no Maserati comes from a production facility in North America; all of Maserati's U.S. lineup is exclusively imported from Italy.
Maserati's performance has been underwhelming, as it faces tough ground in its key markets. According to Maserati Chief Executive Officer Santo Ficili, about 35% to 40% of its customers are American. In 2024, Maserati posted an adjusted operating loss of €260 million ($298 million) as it sold just 11,300 units, with 4,819 of those cars reaching drivers in the United States.
One of the sources who talked to Reuters said that Stellantis is starting to realize it has more brands than it can really focus on, adding that it needs to "set priorities" with the matter. They also report that some board members are split on this scenario: some think selling Maserati is the best move, while others worry that getting rid of its only luxury brand would hurt the company's reputation.
This is not the first time that Maserati has been speculated to be sold. Notably, last year, comments from former Stellantis CFO Natalie Knight suggested that the Trident may be on the way out at the 14-brand automaker, which has sincebeen refuted.
However, what we solidly know is that Maserati and Alfa Romeo's brand CEO said that it has a turnaround plan as soon as Filosa takes the helm on Monday, the 23rd. In a June 5 interview with Reuters, he not only denied that Stellantis was selling Maserati, but he also expressed optimism over the future of the Trident and that Filosa will back potential plans, which include new products on the horizon. "We have clear ideas about what we want to do, and we hope we can be ready very soon. Let's wait for Antonio to take up his job," Ficili told the newswire.
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