Maserati's Fate Clarified as Stellantis Confronts Major Losses

Stellantis denies selling Maserati despite a 22.3B euro loss and a 30% sales drop. The automaker is instead pursuing tech partnerships in Asia to address EV gaps.

Amid swirling market speculation and a challenging financial year, automotive giant Stellantis has drawn a definitive line in the sand. The company has firmly denied any intention to sell its struggling luxury subsidiary, Maserati. This clarification comes as the group navigates a substantial annual net loss and seeks strategic partnerships to address technological gaps.

A Luxury Brand Under Pressure

The rumors of a potential sale emerged against a backdrop of severe operational difficulties. For the full year 2025, Stellantis reported a massive net loss of 22.3 billion euros. Maserati’s performance mirrored this corporate distress, with global sales plummeting to just 7,900 vehicles—its lowest volume since 2012. This figure represents a dramatic 30% decline year-over-year, driven in large part by a collapse in what was once a robust Chinese market for the brand.

Financial analysts point to Maserati’s lagging progress in vehicle electrification and intelligent driving systems as a core weakness. This fundamental challenge is reflected in the parent company's stock performance. Shares closed recently at 5.82 euros, hovering just above a 52-week low recorded earlier in the week. Since the start of the year, the equity has declined by more than 40%.

Management Denies Split or Sale Speculation

A senior representative from Stellantis's Asia-Pacific board has categorically rejected reports suggesting the Italian marque could be divested. The executive stated that assertions regarding either a sale of Maserati or a broader breakup of the conglomerate lack any factual basis. Concurrently, the company has declined to comment on market speculation about potential equity investments from Chinese automakers Xiaomi and XPeng. Observers have suggested such partners could assist in restructuring Stellantis's European operations, but the group has dismissed these talks as unfounded market conjecture.

Strategic Shift Towards Asian Technology Alliances

To bridge its evident technological shortfalls, Stellantis is increasingly turning to external expertise from Asia. A significant step in this direction was a 1.5 billion euro investment in October 2023, which secured a 20% stake in Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor. Current negotiations are focused on expanding this joint venture in the near term. Several concrete projects are reportedly under discussion, aiming to accelerate the deployment of Leapmotor's EV technology in the European market and thereby restore the group's competitive edge.