Maserati in the Chinese Crosshairs?

The rapprochement between Stellantis and Dongfeng revives speculation about the interest of Chinese groups in the brand.

The rapprochement between Stellantis and the Chinese manufacturer Dongfeng is taking on a new dimension. After several years of industrial cooperation in China, the two groups have officially announced a new agreement regarding the production of electrified Peugeot and Jeep models in Wuhan. However, in Europe, it is primarily the strategic implications of this alliance that are beginning to raise concerns.

According to several financial and industrial sources, Stellantis is currently considering the use of certain European plants to accommodate Chinese production in order to compensate for the chronic underutilization of several sites within the group. This strategy comes as European manufacturers face increasing pressure from the rise of Chinese brands in the electric vehicle market.

Spotting or Installation?

For several weeks, representatives of Chinese automotive groups have reportedly visited several Stellantis factories in Italy, Spain, Germany, and France. Officially, no brand sale is being considered. But markets are now discussing much deeper industrial partnerships, or even targeted investments in certain weakened European brands.

Among them, Maserati currently attracts most of the speculation. The brand with the Trident is going through a challenging period, with declining sales and expensive electrification to finance. Nevertheless, its global prestige remains intact, especially in China where European luxury brands maintain significant symbolic value.

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