Maserati sold 80% fewer cars than in 2017: Huawei and JAC are said to help it

Italian luxury brand Maserati Chinese tech could pull Maserati out of its slump. According to Chinese media, Maserati is preparing with Huawei an automaker JAC two electric cars that would be sold in China under the Maextro brand and around the rest of the world with the Maserati trident. The companies have not officially confirmed the cooperation yet, and the report is based on unnamed industry sources.

Electric GT and a large SUV

As CnEVPost writes, citing a Chinese portal Auto Time, the first model is expected to be a large electric GT, which Maserati favors since it fits the brand’s character better. The second is expected to be a mid-size to large electric SUV, which would round out the current Grecale Folgore range.

Serial production should get underway in the second half of 2027. As the first markets for the foreign version, the report names the Middle East, Italy, France, and Germany.

What would Huawei, JAC, and Maserati do

The tasks, according to the reports, are clearly split. Huawei is to handle product definition and key technologies. According to CarNewsChina, this involves the HIMA alliance platform, an intelligent cockpit, the Qiankun ADS driver-assistance system, and an electric powertrain. JAC is expected to take care of engineering and production at its plant for the Maextro brand. Maserati would contribute with design, the brand name, and the international sales network.

The production method is also interesting. Body shells would be built in Hefei in Anhui province and shipped to Italy as semi-finished units. At plants in Cassina and Modena, the cars would be completed, given a luxury interior, and their chassis would be tuned. The Maextro brand, which JAC runs together with Huawei, currently sells a luxury S800 sedan in China.

Why Maserati needs help

The brand figures—part of the Stellantis group—are alarming. In 2025, Maserati delivered fewer than 8,000 vehicles worldwide, which is 80% less than at the peak in 2017. The adjusted operating loss reached €198 million, and the margin fell to −27.3%.

The sales decline wasn’t halted even by the electric GranTurismo Folgore and Grecale Folgore models. Partnering with Huawei would give the brand a fast route to software and driver-assistance systems—areas where Chinese manufacturers are strong today. For European customers, that would mean something new: Italian design and the Maserati logo over electronics, software, and assistance systems from Huawei. Slovakia isn’t among the first listed markets, so any sales here would likely come later.

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