Maserati delivers cars to Ferrari: sign of a first rapprochement?

Relationships between Italian brands sometimes take unexpected paths. Such is the case today with Maserati and Ferraritwo legendary names in Italian motoring, who have just crossed paths once again. Maserati has in fact delivered several vehicles to Ferrari, for use by its top executives. A simple logistical partnership... or the first sign of a deeper rapprochement?

A shared past and persistent rumours

To understand the significance of this delivery, we need to look back at the recent history of both brands. In the 2000s, Maserati and Ferrari were both under the aegis of the Fiat Group. For more than a decade, Maseratis benefited from Ferrari engines, offering customers the pleasure of driving a sedan, GT coupe or SUV powered by a prancing-horse engine.

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But in 2016, Ferrari officially became independent via a spin-off, leaving Maserati in the fold of FCA, then Stellantis. Since then, they've gone their separate ways, at least officially. However, rumors have continued to circulate about a possible sale of Maserati, some went so far as to suggest a takeover by... Ferrari.

Stellantis, for its part, has always denied wanting to sell Maserati. The automaker with the trident is going through a delicate phase, after a failed attempt to switch to all-electric vehicles. A long-awaited new product plan is due to be presented by the end of June 2025. And it should " delighting long-standing customers "according to CEO Santo Ficili.

A symbolic delivery?

Against this backdrop, Santo Ficili announced this week that it has delivered twelve vehicles to Ferrari, including nine Maserati Grecale (including two electric Folgore 100 % models), as well as two Alfa Romeo Giulia and one Alfa Romeo Stelvio. These vehicles will serve as company cars for Ferrari executives.

"Today I had the honor of being invited to Ferrari's historic headquarters in Maranello to deliver twelve cars for the management team," Santo Ficili wrote on LinkedIn.
"This is the first part of a wider supply of Maserati and Alfa Romeo cars for Ferrari. [...] These models offer a solution for everyday use without compromising on performance and technology."

This move is a pragmatic solution: Ferrari only produces luxury or sports cars that are unsuitable for everyday use by its executives. But it also has a symbolic value: that of seeing Maserati play a strategic role in the Maranello ecosystem.

The beginning of something?

The move is all the more noteworthy in that it comes at a time when the ties between Ferrari and Maserati are not completely severed. The Exor group, Ferrari's main shareholder, is also heavily involved in Stellantis. And the idea of greater synergy between Italian brands, against a backdrop of market restructuring, comes up regularly in insider discussions.

So, is this delivery the prelude to a new collaboration between the two companies? A simple exchange of good practices? Or is it the harbinger of a more strategic, even capital-intensive rapprochement?

For the moment, it's hard to say. But one thing is certain: this visit by the CEO of Maserati to Maranello, and the commissioning of several Grecale units within Ferrari itself, is sure to get people talking. And in the hushed but passionate world of Italian motoring, every gesture counts.