What was still just a rumor a few months ago now seems to be moving seriously toward an agreement. Maserati, the century-old luxury brand from Stellantis, is said to have made significant progress in its discussions with Huawei and the Chinese automaker JAC Motors. This partnership could profoundly change the way certain future cars are developed at Trident.
Last May, we had already mentioned a project that is surprising, to say the least : a luxury car jointly developed by Maserati, Huawei, and JAC, marketed under the Maextro brand in China and bearing the Maserati badge internationally. At the time, many questions remained unanswered. Four months later, the project is reportedly well underway.
Most of the obstacles would have been overcome
According to the latest information from Milano Finanza, citing a source familiar with the matter, Maserati has reportedly made significant progress on its partnership project with Huawei and JAC Motors. The agreement has not yet been signed, but most of the obstacles have reportedly been overcome.
The goal is reportedly to have this collaboration fully operational as early as 2027. When asked by the Italian media outlet, Stellantis did not confirm the negotiations, but did not deny them either. The group simply explained that it regularly engages in discussions with various industry players around the world to offer the best mobility solutions to its customers, while declining to comment on the rumors. This is a cautious response, given that a first vehicle is reportedly already in the design phase.
A Maserati and a Maextro from the same project
The scenario outlined in May is also taking shape. At the heart of the alliance would be Harmony Intelligent Mobility, the automotive ecosystem developed by Huawei. The division of roles would be particularly clear. Huawei would contribute its in-vehicle technologies and software and play a major role in product development. JAC Motors would be responsible for engineering and production. Maserati, for its part, would contribute its design, brand image, and international sales network.
Even more surprising, the «dual badge» concept is reportedly still being considered. A car based on the same platform could thus be sold under the Maextro badge in China and under the Maserati badge in international markets. The first model would be electric, and if the agreement is finalized, production could begin before the end of 2027. One particularly sensitive question remains: where will it be produced? In China or in Italy? For now, nothing has been decided yet.
Maserati's rescue plan is beginning to take shape
However, this alliance would be just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Last June, Antonio Filosa confirmed before the Italian Parliament that Stellantis was in talks with two industrial partners capable of bringing «technology, development, and excellent ideas» to Maserati. We then revealed, according to one of our sources, that the second partner under consideration could be a BMW.
The latest information regarding Huawei and JAC therefore appears to confirm that there are indeed several parallel initiatives underway and that Stellantis is exploring various solutions to reshape Maserati’s future. In particular, the Chinese partnership would allow Maserati to gain much faster access to software technologies developed in China, while sharing the enormous costs involved in developing a new generation of electric vehicles.
See you in December in Modena
We’ll have to wait a little longer to find out what the future holds for Maserati. The automaker is planning an Investor Day to be held in December in Modena, during which it is expected to unveil its new global strategy. A potential alliance with Huawei and JAC would be just one part of that strategy.
But one thing has changed since our first article in May: the idea of a Maserati developed with Huawei and JAC is no longer just a rumor coming out of China. Discussions are reportedly far enough along to envisage an operational partnership as early as 2027. The question now is how far Maserati is willing to go with its new partners. And, above all, whether the future Trident will remain as Italian as it promises to be.
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It's an April Fools' joke in September, isn't it?..
«Rescue plan»… It’s a complete and utter abandonment of the brand. Basically—and this is exactly what’s going to happen—the brand will become nothing more than a label affixed to cars designed and manufactured in China. That’s what happens to all European brands that end up in Chinese hands. Volvo is no longer Swedish in any way. The platform, engines, and technology are almost entirely Chinese. Even production is increasingly shifting over there. Lotus is the same. Made in China.
Thank you, Elkann, Tavares, and Filosa, for your rescue and investment.
It’s clear: this guy has the nerve to talk about a “rescue,” when all he’s doing—and I mean NOTHING ELSE—is betraying the brand. But not just the brand: the employees, the owners of Maserati, and Europe in general…
«Basically—and this is exactly what's going to happen—the brand will become nothing more than a label affixed to cars designed and manufactured in China.»
Let's be honest—this will soon be the case for many of Stellantis' brands.
Maserati is already having a hard time selling Italian Maseratis… so Chinese Maseratis? I won’t even go there! 😂
Maserati should stay in Europe. If it's sold to China, its reputation will be ruined.
Is the situation really so bad that they can't develop any new models—such as the V8? VW is shaking up its executive leadership; what's the situation like at Maserati? You don't need a manager for every division.
They're slackers who want maximum profit with minimum effort. They have neither honor nor scruples.
Dual badge, just like a «run-of-the-mill» mass-market city car. A Maserati where every single nut will be tightened in China…
Stellantis is a huge joke. With them, it’s April Fools’ Day every day. I can’t believe there are still people who would spend even a penny on this pathetic company.
Otherwise, some Americans say that the Copperhead is based on a Maserati platform, and it’s even possible that Maserati might use the 5.2L V8—developed in the U.S.—for future models?
Stellantis continues to dismantle Italian brands.
We thought things would get better after Tavares, but they didn't.
A Chinese-made Maserati makes no sense.
At the same time, today’s Maseratis—even though they’re 100% Italian—aren’t selling anymore, right? Why, and more importantly, how can a company survive without selling anything? Mercedes cars haven’t been “100% German” for a long time now (even if the very powerful German marketing machine would have you believe otherwise and makes all its customers swallow that line), and they sell very well. The world isn’t necessarily changing for the better with extremists of all kinds; the auto industry is just following suit…
Yeah, but who would want a Maserati with JAC parts under the hood?
If, on top of that, they're going to make a generic model—one with a bland design meant to appeal to the Chinese market—it's going to be a resounding failure.
This deal shows that Filosa wants to tinker with the business model for its near-luxury brand.
A clearly distinct model for each brand would have been the bare minimum
That’s an excellent question: Can Maserati be profitable and have a future? Jaguar didn’t succeed and is repositioning itself as a higher-end brand. Aston is still regularly on the brink of bankruptcy. For Maserati, it’s far from a sure thing.
MASERATI is MODENA and EUROPE!
I don't want some Chinese knockoff.
IT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU SCREAM HOW INCOMPETENT AUTOMOTIVE EXECUTIVES ARE!
THE SCUM OF AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY.
GIERIG
UNFÄHIG
ASSHOLES
It will be interesting to learn more about the partnership with BMW. Quattroportes made in China with a BMW engine… Quo non descendam?