BYD will not be buying Maserati. This has been confirmed by Santo Ficili, CEO of Maserati
Maserati’s top management has denied rumours of potential acquisitions by the Chinese group
“Rumours continue to circulate about BYD’s interest in acquiring Maserati. Can you rule out any possibility of a sale in the coming years?” “If BYD is interested, we take note of it. But there is certainly no intention on our part to move in that direction.” These were the exact words of Santo Ficili, Maserati’s chief executive, in response to a direct question from *Il Sole 24 Ore*. This is because the launch of the restyled Grecale, Granturismo and Grancabrio also featured a question-and-answer session where Maserati’s top management shed light on various points requiring clarification, starting precisely with possible contacts with BYD regarding the acquisition of the brand or the use of its Italian production facilities. Ficili has thus put an end to a series of increasingly persistent rumours about contacts between the two brands, with Alfredo Altavilla reportedly taking a personal interest in the initiative. This is because the former number two at FCA, who has become a leading figure for BYD in Europe, is very familiar with the internal dynamics in Modena and within the Stellantis group.
No sales and new models coming soon
As well as denying any possible links with Byd, Maserati’s senior management have confirmed that new models are on the way, set to be announced by the end of the year at the next Maserati Investor Day. Another issue addressed was the problem of falling sales volumes: Maserati aims to improve its figures, but without a rush to boost registrations; instead, the focus will be on build quality and the brand’s positioning within the luxury sector, along with how customers perceive it.
