Yahoo Autos Stellantis CFO Says Maserati Could Be Sold Off
The massive multinational automotive conglomerate Stellantis is apparently on a mission to cut costs. In recent weeks, executives such as CEO Carlos Tavares and CFO Natalie Knight have made public statements that suggest the company could wind up cutting brands that aren't able to turn a profit. But while Tavares was straightforward in saying that nameplates stuck in the red could be shut down, Knight took a gentler approach when queried about the future of Maserati.
The historic, Modena-based luxury automaker isn't doing so hot this year, with global sales down 50 percent year-over-year. By the numbers, Maserati only sold 6,500 units from January to June, while it sold 15,300 units during the same time period last year. Even worse, that accounts for an adjusted operating loss of $88.6 million in 2024, according to data analysis by Automotive News Europe.
"The first half has been disappointing," Knight said on a call with journalists on July 25. "The future is about how we maintain best value. There could be some point in the future when we look at what’s the best home for [Maserati]."
Knight said these mounting losses are largely a result of the brand discontinuing many of its key models over the last 12 months, such as the Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans and the Levante SUV. Even with the introduction of the new GranTurismo and compact Grecale SUV, Maserati is struggling to maintain profitability, with global Grecale sales down by 42 percent year-over-year. And while Stellantis doesn't break out model-by-model sales figures here in the U.S., Automotive News reported that a mere 97 units of Maserati's MC20 supercar were sold in Europe last year.
These threats by executives at Stellantis come after the group posted its first real loss since its creation in 2021. According to Automotive News, the net income of the conglomerate is down 48 percent in the first half of the year. As a result, Stellantis is open to making some big changes, including delaying products or even selling Maserati back to its previous owner.
Analysis by associate publisher and editor of Automotive News Europe Luca Ciferri explains that Ferrari, which owned Maserati from 1997 to 2005, could be best suited to buy Maserati. From its industry-leading 27% adjusted operating margin to a revenue yield of $6.5 billion in 2023, Ferrari is on top of its financials — and has plenty of experience with producing sweet-sounding, fast, and luxurious Italian vehicles. Ciferri also suggests that Ferrari could benefit greatly from the electrified powertrain investments that Maserati has made under Stellantis's watch.
If Stellantis holds onto Maserati, however, the brand's incoming models will likely be delayed, according to reports from Automotive News. In fact, it's unlikely that the Maserati lineup will change much until 2027, when the alleged electric replacement to the Levante will appear. That's two years later than initially planned. That will supposedly be followed by an all-electric Quattroporte successor — but the official launch for the EV sedan has reportedly been pushed back to 2028, three years past its initial due date.
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