Maserati is in talks with Huawei and JAC to build two new electric cars. The Italian brand wants to turn around falling sales by tapping Chinese tech and production. No official deal yet.
Maserati is deep in talks with two Chinese powerhouses. The goal: launch new electric models under the Italian nameplate. Sources in China now point to Huawei and JAC as the main partners. If the deal goes through, Maserati’s next SUV and grand tourer will run on Chinese tech and get built in Italy.
Last year, Maserati sold just 7,800 cars. Ferrari sold more than 13,600. The gap is wide. Stellantis, Maserati’s parent, keeps saying “Maserati is not for sale.” But the numbers tell a tough story. CEO Antonio Filosa said in June that Stellantis was in advanced talks with two big tech partners. Chinese industry sources now name them: Huawei and JAC. Bloomberg and other industry outlets report that Stellantis is planning a major overhaul of Maserati. The focus is on two flagship electric models. The reason is simple. Maserati just had its weakest sales year in recent memory.
Stellantis has stated that a comprehensive new strategy for Maserati will be unveiled at the investor day in Modena this December.
Chinese outlet Auto Time reports that the partnership has already produced concrete plans for two all-electric Maseratis. The first is an SUV. It would join the Grecale Folgore in the lineup. The second is a grand tourer. That car would boost Maserati’s sports image and sit alongside the Gran Turismo Folgore. Both models are expected to lean heavily on Huawei’s tech know-how. JAC would handle parts and manufacturing. Maserati’s job: design and use its European sales network. This setup matches what Chinese and international media have described. Huawei would take charge of software and the smart platform, including advanced driver assistance systems. JAC would lead engineering and production.
Maserati Spain told Motorpasión España that “nothing is 100% officially confirmed” yet. But Chinese sources sound sure the deal is moving forward. The plan reportedly uses a semi-knocked down (SKD) model. Kits would ship from China. Final assembly would happen at Maserati’s Cassino and Modena plants. Other carmakers have tried this blend of Chinese innovation with European branding and assembly. Still, several industry analysts point out that this SKD/local assembly plan is not confirmed. Stellantis has not made it official.
Huawei and JAC already have their own luxury brand in China. It’s called Maextro. They launched the S800 sedan first, then the V680 and V800 electric models. Industry reports say these cars will sell as Maextro in China and as Maserati in Europe. This mirrors other recent cross-border car deals. For example, GWM’s expansion into Spain, as reported earlier, used a similar approach.
Multiple independent sources confirm that Maserati’s global deliveries dropped to around 7,800–7,900 vehicles in 2025, down from approximately 11,300 in 2024, intensifying pressure for a rapid relaunch of the brand.
Stellantis has not announced a timeline or joint venture structure. Early projections suggest production of these Maseratis with Chinese roots could start in the second half of 2027. That depends on talks staying on track. AutoScout24 and other European automotive publications report that Stellantis keeps stressing Maserati is not for sale. Any decisions will be part of a bigger brand plan to be revealed later this year.
The stakes are high. The electric car market is changing fast. Competition is fierce. Maserati’s move to embrace Chinese tech and manufacturing could decide its future. If Stellantis can blend Huawei’s tech and JAC’s production with Maserati’s design, the partnership could be a turning point. For now, the industry waits. Will this bold plan give Maserati the boost it needs? Time will tell.
