Stellantis NV and its luxury brand Maserati are in advanced industrial partnership talks with Chinese technology giant Huawei and automaker JAC Group to co-develop new energy vehicles, according to financial reports and industry sources. The proposed cross-border collaboration aims to reverse Maserati’s steep sales decline and support its electrification transition by utilizing Huawei’s advanced smart vehicle platforms.
Huawei and JAC Partnership Structure and Market Strategy
According to local media reports detailed by Yunjian Insight and financial coverage from Milano Finanza, the potential joint venture mirrors Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance framework. Under this specialized operating model, Huawei leads product definition and supplies core technologies, while Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp (JAC) handles joint research, development, and manufacturing. Maserati contributes vehicle styling design and brand endorsement.
The manufacturing framework involves a dual-brand distribution model designed for different geographic markets. Domestically in China, vehicles resulting from the collaboration will be sold under the Maextro brand, a luxury badge created through Huawei and JAC’s existing partnership. Internationally, the co-developed models will carry the Maserati badge. Mass production for the first vehicle is slated to begin in the second half of next year, with R&D work already underway despite a formal commercial agreement still pending execution, according to sources cited by Yunjian Insight.
Stellantis Electrification Challenges and Maserati Sales Slump
The discussions arrive as parent company Stellantis and Maserati navigate severe financial and commercial pressures. According to global delivery figures cited by automotive reporters, Maserati shipments plummeted from nearly 27,000 units in 2023 to approximately 7,900 units. In China, which previously represented Maserati’s largest single market—accounting for 14,498 sales or nearly 30 percent of its global total in 2017—annual sales dropped to just over 1,000 units.
Stellantis reported a net loss of 22.3 billion euros for 2025, while Maserati specifically recorded an adjusted operating loss of 198 million euros on its low shipment volumes. Industry analysts point to Maserati’s lagging smart cabin technology and driving experiences compared to domestic Chinese competitors as a primary hurdle in its EV transition. Antonio Filosa of Stellantis noted earlier this year that manufacturing and industrial partnerships have become central to the group’s strategic direction, stating that such an agreement would increase production volumes at Maserati’s Italian assembly plants in Cassino and Modena.
Precedents in the Chinese Luxury and Mass Market
The potential Maserati alliance follows a proven playbook for Stellantis in China. The European automaker previously acquired an approximate 20 percent stake in Leapmotor to fortify its competitive standing in the mass-market new energy vehicle sector. Meanwhile, Huawei and JAC have already demonstrated commercial success in the premium segment with the Maextro S800 sedan. Starting at 708,000 yuan (approximately $104,260), the Maextro S800 has accumulated over 16,000 sales since its launch, featuring high-end technical specifications including an 896-channel LiDAR system.
Stellantis issued a standard corporate statement confirming that it regularly collaborates with companies worldwide across a broad range of topics, maintaining the ultimate goal of providing customers with optimal mobility choices. Huawei and JAC representatives did not respond to media requests for comment regarding the ongoing negotiations. Maserati is scheduled to present an updated, comprehensive long-term strategic plan in December, which is expected to clarify the brand’s production footprint and partnership roadmap.
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