The deal between BMW and Maserati won't happen after all… they can't agree on a key point

Just a few months ago, BMW seemed like one of the most surprising choices to partner with Maserati in the development of its next generation of models. According to new information obtained by Italpassion, this possibility has now been all but ruled out. And the reason, it turns out, is actually quite simple.

Last June, we reported that Stellantis was in talks with BMW regarding a possible industrial partnership involving Maserati. This news came shortly after Antonio Filosa’s remarks before the Italian Parliament. The CEO of Stellantis had confirmed at the time that he was in discussions with two partners who could bring «technology, development, and excellent ideas» to the Trident brand.

Since then, one of these cases appears to have made significant progress. Reports are mounting regarding a possible partnership with Huawei and JAC Motors, with two electric models already mentioned and even a scenario involving production split between China and Italy. But what about BMW?

The project with BMW is now reportedly «all but dead»

Our source, who had already told us a few months ago about discussions with the German automaker, has come back to us with much less encouraging news. According to the source, «the deal with BMW is all but dead.» This information reportedly comes from an internal source and, incidentally, confirms an important detail: the BMW option was very real and had indeed been explored in recent months.

Why might the talks have ultimately fallen through? The answer appears to boil down mainly to a cost issue. According to our source, working with BMW would require a financial investment deemed too large. At this point, it’s important to note that no official announcement has been made by Stellantis, Maserati, or BMW. This information is therefore still unofficial. However, it helps explain why this possibility—which still seemed credible at the beginning of the summer—now appears to be fading.

Maserati needs to invest, but without spending recklessly

The financial issue is particularly sensitive for Maserati. The brand is going through for several years a difficult period, and Stellantis is seeking to rebuild its future while managing the investments needed to develop new models.

A partnership with BMW could have brought particularly valuable technologies, platforms, or even powertrains. But that expertise obviously comes at a price. And if the financial terms demanded by the German automaker required too large an investment, Stellantis ultimately decided not to pursue this path. As a result—barring another unexpected turn of events—the next major Maserati models are not expected to be developed in partnership with BMW.

BMW’s gradual exit from the equation automatically strengthens the other scenario we’ve been discussing for several months. Meanwhile, talks involving Huawei and JAC Motors seem to be becoming increasingly concrete. In early September, reports indicated that most of the obstacles to a partnership had been overcome. And while the German option is fading, the Chinese one has never seemed more credible.