Stellantis Reaffirms Commitment to Maserati

Stellantis has declared its unwavering commitment to Maserati, dispelling rumors of selling or merging its Italian premium marque with another group like Ferrari. The announcement, made on July 30th, underscores Stellantis’ strategy to maintain the Maserati brand as a stand-out brand among its 14 other brands.

The statement follows CEO Carlos Tavares’s stern warning that brands within the automaker must prove their profitability or face a potential shutdown. This remark followed the company’s disappointing financial results for the first half of 2024 when net income plummeted by 48% to €5.6 billion ($6.1 billion USD).

Maserati, in particular, has struggled. From January to June, the premium Italian marque reported an adjusted operating loss of €82 million ($89 million USD). Maserati’s global vehicle sales also saw a significant drop of more than 50%, with only 6,500 units sold. 

Despite these challenges, Stellantis remains firm in its commitment to Maserati. The company views the brand as a crucial part of its diverse portfolio, which means the focus is on brands like Lancia and DS.

While there has been much talk about the Chrysler brand being under the gun, Chrysler sold 74,572 vehicles in H1 2024 despite being down 8% over the previous year. The Pacifica alone sold 70,882 units in the first half. For example, Lancia and DS sold 92,453 units combined for the entire year of 2022. Since then, DS has left the Chinese market, while Lancia has just returned to select European markets.

Moreover, Stellantis has been actively expanding its global footprint. The company acquired a 51% stake in China’s Leapmotor, adding the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer as its 15th brand.