Maserati: rumours of a sale to the Chinese return, Stellantis reacts

Rumours of a sale of Maserati has resurfaced. Although the subject was thought to have been closed in the summer of 2024, new indiscretions from China and Italian union circles have reopened the question: is Stellantis ready to sell the jewel in the crown of the Trident?

A long-running soap opera

The story goes back to July 2024, when Natalie Knight, CFO of Stellantis, raised the possibility of a spin-off or sale of Maserati in order to "find the best home" for it. At the time, the Italian luxury brand was in turmoil: sales down, management reshuffled, projects delayed... and above all, a conspicuous absence from the Stellantis Investor Day.

In response to the uproar, John Elkann and Carlos Tavares issued a categorical statement: " Maserati is not for sale ". A promise reiterated several times since then, particularly in recent days.

Results in freefall

But now the figures for the first quarter of 2025 are in... and they are alarming: sales down 50 % on the previous year, and a drop in sales of -48 %. A striking contrast when we recall that Maserati was producing up to 40,000 vehicles a year at its peak. All the more reason for concern and speculation.

Potential buyers in ambush

It was against this backdrop that a statement by Charlie Zhang, executive vice-president of Chery Auto, set things alight. Asked about the Chinese automaker's expansion strategy, he declared: "We are ready to seize any brand acquisition opportunity".. No names are mentioned, but Maserati is immediately on everyone's lips.

The Italian press goes further. The Italian newspaper Corriere Torino reports on John Elkann's strategy of selling several assets, including Iveco Defence and potentially Maserati, with negotiations entrusted to Goldman Sachs. The aim is to raise up to €1.5 billion for the company.

Union reaction was swift. For Edi Lazzi of the Fiom, it's a matter of "making cash by selling off the family jewels". Rocco Cutrì of the Fim echoed this sentiment: "Selling Maserati means definitively renouncing Italian luxury". Conversely, Luigi Paone of Uilm sees it as a possible last resort if the Elkann family can no longer afford to relaunch the brand.

Stellantis denies again

Stellantis quickly tried to calm things down. "With all due respect, Maserati is not for sale," clarified a Group spokesperson, in direct response to Chery's comments. The company reaffirms its intention to make Maserati the pillar of its premium offering, notably through the electrification of the Folgore range (GranTurismo, GranCabrio, Grecale).

But despite these denials, confidence is waning. It's not the first time that the group has sworn loyalty to the Trident brand... before rumors resurface at the slightest counter-performance.

Is a sale to a Chinese group like Chery, eager for European prestige, a credible hypothesis? While the interest seems real, the decision remains as much political as economic. A sale of Maserati would mark the end of an emblematic chapter in Italian industry... or perhaps the beginning of a new one, under a foreign flag.