Iconic Italian brand turns to China for help as JAC reportedly to support Maserati with luxury Maextro platforms: report

Maserati could be thrown a lifeline from China.

The  struggling Italian luxury brand is selling a dwindling number of cars globally, while parent company Stellantis is looking to make some tough decisions.

One is to lean on a new Chinese partnership for the company’s future product pipeline, according to a new report from Reuters.

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Despite Stellantis’ large financial interest in Leapmotor, the report said the group is turning to JAC and its joint venture with tech giant Huawei, which produces luxury cars under the Maextro brand.

Reuters, which quotes two unnamed sources on the matter, says ‘advanced talks’ are in place to source Huawei’s vehicle platform for a jointly-developed vehicle “by the end of 2027”.

HIMA consists of a network of premium brands under joint ventures, which includes AITO (Seres Group), Luxeed (Chery), Stelato (BAIC), SAIC (SAIC Motor of MG fame) and Maextro (JAC).

Currently Maextro is positioned as an ultra-luxury brand in China, manufacturing only the Mercedes-Benz S-Class rivalling S800 limousine and two plush people movers. Both are available in either fully electric or range-extender hybrid forms.

The company lost the equivalent of over A$319 million over that period, casting doubt on its future.

However, it was reported earlier this year that Stellantis was seeking to lean further into its Chinese joint-venture projects as it sought to make more of its portfolio competitive and increase utilisation rates in its collection of European factories.

Back then, it was announced that there was a plan for Maserati, and that it would include two new models.

No doubt the large group of brands has had its eye on other successful Chinese joint-venture strategies, which includes Nissan’s bold turn-around strategy to shut some of its historic factories and lean into its alliance with Dongfeng for a refreshed portfolio of new global models using ‘China speed’ manufacturing as well as access to cost-competitive hybrid platforms and battery technology.

More will be revealed on Maserati’s future before the end of 2026, as the company is set to reveal its long-term strategy late this year.

Whether Alfa Romeo is also set for a similar transformation remains to be seen. The company has achieved global growth off the back of its Tonale and Junior SUVs, while the ageing Giulia and Stelvio have had a stay of execution until the end of next year.