Stellantis is holding talks with two possible partners for Maserati, with the result set to affect several Italian plants connected to the brand.
According to a Bloomberg report, CEO Antonio Filosa told Italian lawmakers at a parliamentary hearing in Rome that the group is assessing two potential partners that could provide technology and other capabilities for Maserati’s future development.
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He did not name the companies.
The discussions come as Filosa addresses concerns from stakeholders, including the Italian government, about Stellantis’ long-term industrial plans in Italy and its increasing number of partnerships with Chinese automotive companies.
In response to questions on Maserati and the Cassino plant, which builds Maserati and Alfa Romeo vehicles, Filosa said: “We are in talks with two important partners that can bring technologies and a series of excellent ideas, we are deciding with which one to work in the future.”
Filosa said Stellantis does not intend to sell Maserati or the Cassino site.
“Certainly Maserati isn’t up for sale, certainly Cassino isn’t up for sale,” Filosa said.
He said Cassino’s future would be “closely tied” to Maserati’s future and that the marque would remain “an icon of Italian style.”
Filosa said a new Maserati strategy, scheduled to be presented in December, would be “ambitious” and would include two new key models.
He also said a potential partnership for Maserati could have implications for Stellantis’ Modena plant, where some Maserati vehicles are made.
Filosa added that the Pomigliano plant near Naples, where Stellantis plans to focus production of high-volume affordable electric vehicles, could also be part of a future partnership arrangement.
He said any partnerships created in Italy would follow a structure similar to Stellantis’ existing agreements with Leapmotor and Dongfeng Motor, through joint ventures in which Stellantis holds a 51% stake.
Recently, Stellantis along with Volkswagen and Renault urged European Union (EU) policymakers to introduce measures supporting automotive manufacturing across Europe.
