Can two struggling automakers make one powerhouse? That’s the question China’s BYD is asking in relation to Maserati, reports Automotive News, after BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li told reporters that brands like Maserati are “very interesting.” Maserati Chief Operating Officer Santo Ficili has reiterated that Maserati is “not for sale,” a drum Stellantis has been beating for ages to a skeptical audience. But we can see why such a move would make sense. The new Stellantis comeback plan prioritizes Jeep, Ram, and Dodge, and if Stellantis were interested in letting go of ailing Maserati, it would have one less brand to reinvigorate, plus some extra cash on the ledger. But that’s not the only potential benefit.
BYD Could Score Big with Maserati
Maserati
With increasing competition from other Chinese automakers, BYD (Build Your Dreams) is seeing a decline in sales and a tumble in profits in its home market, and in Europe, tariffs are also impacting profitability. If BYD were to take over Maserati, or at least form a partnership with the brand, it could gain access to European manufacturing, helping cut production costs and avoid tariffs. Maserati would also be a prominent feather in any Chinese conglomerate’s cap, with decades of history from which to draw. For Maserati, the upsides look good too. The Italian marque could gain access to impressive EV technology, and BYD would surely invest considerable sums toward new products. It’s also worth noting that BYD has been eyeing a Formula One entry for some time now, and while racing in the pinnacle of combustion-powered single-seater motorsport might look strange for an EV-centric company with mostly family vehicles under its umbrella, using the Maserati trident in F1 could be very promising. However, don’t bet on Maserati becoming Chinese-owned any time soon.
BYD Buying Maserati Is Unlikely… For Now
Stefan Bratzel, founder and director of the independent research institute Center of Automotive Management, told AutoNews that while a BYD takeover of Maserati isn’t unrealistic, he “can’t see it happening at the moment.” Similarly, others have suggested that this could be a financial risk for BYD in its current throes, and with Stellantis promising new Maserati creations, it doesn’t look like the Italian brand will be let go for the foreseeable future. However, analysts say that if legacy automakers choose to get rid of some of their brands, several Chinese automakers, not just BYD, would be very interested, and as these relatively new brands try to move beyond just outpricing the competition, investing in improving quality and technology, a future where Chinese brands begin taking over European companies whose veneer has faded looks ever more likely.
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