It was an announcement that took the automotive world by surprise this morning: Jean-Philippe Imparato is no longer Managing Director of Stellantis Europe. The Frenchman, a well-known figure in the group and the Italian brands, will now devote his full attention to the relaunch of the company. Maseratia mission of vital importance for the future of the trident brand.
From Peugeot to Alfa Romeo, a man of relaunches
Imparato has already left his mark on several companies. Managing Director of Peugeot from 2016 to 2021, he successfully steered the repositioning of the brand, between assertive design and a move upmarket. When Stellantis was created, he was entrusted with Alfa Romeo, with a clear objective: to save the brand from a predicted decline.
During his years at the helm of the Biscione, he spearheaded three major projects: the launch of the Tonale (whose release he delayed to perfect), the 33 Stradale, and more recently the B-SUV Junior, the cornerstone of the company's sales strategy. It was also he who declared in 2021: " Alfa Romeo to switch to electric 100 % in 2027 ". A clear-cut position, reflecting the regulatory pressure of the time, even if the context has changed considerably since then.
A brief but intense spell at the helm of Stellantis Europe
The departure of Carlos Tavares at the end of 2024 accelerated Imparato's destiny. Appointed Director of Stellantis Europe, for almost a year he carried out a delicate transition mission, pending the arrival of Antonio Filosa as Group CEO in June 2025. During this period, Imparato is proud to have contributed to the launch of more than 10 models, consolidated the region's competitiveness and asserted Stellantis' leadership in the hybrid segment.
In a message posted on social network X, he confides:
"The past year has been particularly intense. Today marks the end of my tenure as Managing Director of Stellantis for the wider Europe region, and I am deeply grateful for this unique experience... From now on, I will focus on my two greatest passions: the product, with the honor of being CEO of Maserati, one of the finest brands in the automotive world, and sales, as Director of the Stellantis & You distribution network."
Maserati, the last chance relaunch?
Imparato's appointment as CEO of Maserati was made official in June 2025to replace Santo Ficili. A few weeks later, he decided on a sensitive issue: " Maserati 100 % electric? No way! "This marks a strategic shift for the brand, which had lost its footing under Davide Grasso, between excessive price rises, a lack of personalization and a poorly negotiated shift to electric vehicles.
Today, the task ahead is immense. Maserati remains a brand of undeniable prestige, but its offering suffers from a mismatch with the luxury car market. At a time when Porsche is multiplying volumes thanks to an extended range, and Ferrari and Lamborghini are focusing on a limited range with PHEV hybrids, Maserati needs to get back on course.
Ultra-luxury or Porsche-style volume?
The key question is positioning. Should Maserati move towards ultra-luxury, with deliberately limited (and not sudden) production, or adopt a broader, more accessible strategy, at the risk of upsetting its image, as it did from 2013 to 2020, but with the ambition of increasing its volumes? Everything else will depend on this decision: product range, marketing strategy, communication and brand identity.
With his experience of relaunching the company, we hope Jean-Philippe Imparato will be the right man for the job. Maserati needs a clear vision and a coherent strategy if it is to regain the place it deserves in the world of luxury automobiles. One thing's for sure: the next few months will be decisive for the future of the trident brand, and Italpassion will be keeping a close eye on this relaunch.
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Alfa Romeo had a re-launch??? I must have missed that lol . Maserati i think is beyond saving (to a point), sell it off to the Chinese who might have enough money to do something with it, but Stellantis simply doesn't - it has enough dying brands to give life support to, I'm looking at you DS, Abarth & Chrysler.
Problem is that Chinese brand don't know how to conceive a proper V12 or even a V8
Imparato was so wrong about Alfa Romeo, with his lunar statements about Alfa Romeos all having to go electric, that one wonders about his strategy for Maserati. And a man from Peugeot doesn't inspire confidence, just like the Tavares disaster.
With this appointment at the head of Maserati, Imparato's exit from the group is more or less imminent, orchestrated by the Italo-Americans who are taking control of the group from the French.
All those close to Tavarès are being thanked. Imparato is one of them.
Given his new position, Imparato will no longer be able to communicate directly with Group management. Worse still, he will report to the man who replaced him as head of European Management! Nice promotion! 🙄😅
Hello, in my opinion mr Imparato is not the right man for the job... he completely missed the relaunch of Alfa Romeo (with Tavares) by imposing the full electric for 2027, years lost for the Stelvio and the Giulia. Time will tell.
Pués yo no sé qué relanzamiento de Alfa! 8 unidades de giulia vendió el mes pasado y el anterior 2 unidades,
El mismo mes 800/900 a4 igual serie 3 igual clase c ya se sabe que las berlinas no se venden pero stelvios venderían otros tantos
Maserati like Jaguar has forgotten who purchases their vehicles. The current market needs some lower end models in the 60 to 70,000 range with aggressive sportiness and solid ICE V6 and V8s. The entry level buyers will buy them and become brand loyal. Jaguar ran me off as soon as they started moving away from V8s. I passed on Maserati due to lack of options and overall quality, even though I love the styling. Moved away from more Jaguars and bought an SQ8 Audi for my wife's latest. Companies need to satisfy their customer base.
I just bought a Maserati Levante GT the best driving car I've ever had in my life and I've drove a lot of them. Mercedes BMW Lexus. No contest is the best bang for the buck. You'll get out there in a luxury automobile. Trust me. The only drawback is they don't include luxury carpets, which is probably which is way below the belt for luxury car not to provide luxury carpets for the front and back and rear with their logo on it and throw in a cover. This will take him to the next level.
Mr. Imparato at the helm of the Stellantis Group's Italian brands is a casting error! Nothing has been relaunched since his appointment. He's a pure Tavares product. Let him retire...
Also mir kommt es so vor als wären die italienischen Marken den franzosen ein Dorn im Auge und verhelfen deren zum niedergang. Alfa Romeo hat nur mehr den Junior und Stelvio , Giulia läuft ja aus , Giulietta eingestellt - kein Nachfolger.
Fiat Tipo eingestellt, Punto kein Nachfolger,.........! Jeder Hersteller hat einen Kompakten im Programm, die sich verkaufen. Bei Stellantis hies es Giulietta wird gestrichen weil diese Segment nicht mehr gefragt sei!
Das war alles aus den Zeiten von FCA abgeschlossen. Da waren keine Franzosen an Board . Jetzt sind ja wieder die FCA Boys an dem Steuer🙂. Dann alles wie von 5-10 Jahren .. 🤪in 3 Jahren alles Flop oder?
Maserati has to build very sporty luxury cars (that's its DNA) that Ferrari doesn't want to build or is reluctant to build: so 4/5-door SUVs, sedans, hunting wagons, etc., plus a beautiful convertible with a more classic look, etc... With the same powertrains as Ferrari, but toned down and with more torque, while meeting German construction quality standards. This is what lovers of beautiful Italian machines like Maseratis want!
He did a great job at Peugeot and relaunched Alfa. Let's face it, without Junior, where would the brand be now? Maserati needs a real boss who knows and loves the automobile and beautiful cars. Rather a good choice
Mouais, I'd put the credit more on Maxime Picat, the man who revolutionized Peugeot by launching the design of the second-generation 3008. Under Imperato, Peugeot had a good few years, building on the momentum generated by Picat and Varin (308 II), but strategically speaking, he was responsible for the 408 flop and a less-than-stellar 2008 2.
As Tato said above, because of Tavares Imperato launched the design of the Guilia and Stelvio 2 in BEV only, resulting in a 2-3 year delay for the launch of these models (depending on the source). So yes, the will and the means to relaunch were there, but the strategic vision behind it was completely vague, resulting in a damp squib.
I totally agree, Imparato completely screwed up when he imagined electric Alfa Romeo 100%s in 2027. He hadn't even imagined the new Giulia and Stelvio with hybrid engines! The result: a considerable backlog.
He made the Junior, which is selling well at the moment, but with an engine offering unworthy of Alfa Romeo (PureTech or electric motors). The only model that respects Alfa Romeo's DNA is the 280hp Junior Veloce, but its range is questionable.
Sounds more like early retirement than promotion. Let's hope it won't also be preparation for retirement for Maserati....
Having owned Alfa's for the past 20+ years, for their sporting personality and Italian design (accepting their poor electrics) its time for my next new model. This MUST be a 100% ICE, so goodbye Alfa. Currently having 2 Alfa's and an Aston, wanting to come back to just the one car, it may well have tobe a Maserati assuming they stay with large ICE's.
Diese Nachricht ist keine gute. Damit scheint der Untergang von Maserati besiegelt. Maserati hat nicht das Alleinstellungsmerkmal wie Ferrari. Ich hätte Maserati in der Liga von BMW, Mercedes oder Audi gesehen. Die haben sich jedoch preislich deutlich darüber positioniert ohne den technischen Gegenwert zu liefern. Nur mit italienischer Romantik kann man heute nicht punkten. Jetzt gleichzuziehen in einem volatilen Markt ist bei dem Rückstand fast ein Fing der Unmöglichkeit. Ich sehe auch die Zukunft von Alfa kritisch, mir zumindest fehlen die Kaufargumente. Zu banal und durchschnittlich sind die geworden.
I don't think he'll have a long career with Maserati, as this is his last job before he retires.
He could offer to put a Puretech engine in a Maserati, and end his career on a high note....
Maserati is already dead
If they aim for exclusivity: Ferrari and Lamborghini sell as many cars as Maserati at 5 to 6 times the price.
If they're aiming for volume: Porsche sells 20 times as many cars as Maserati, and Audi BMW and Mercedes 200 times as many, while still having the means to cover a wide range and invest billions to stay at the cutting edge of technology.