Maserati’s EV Road Bumps

We’ve been hearing that multiple car brands are “planning their switch to EVs”, & personally I’ve been mostly expecting luxury car brands to be the first to take the plunge as the bonuses that come from EVs are soooo fitting for luxury high-end cars, Rolls Royce unveiled their “Spectre” sometime ago, & I personally was expecting a brand like Maserati to follow suite, but I’m quite saddened by the recent news that they are “pulling the plug”, or hopefully only delaying their plans for the quattroporte “Folgore” version, which is Maserati’s codename for EVs. Known for its sleek and high-end rides, Maserati had us all excited about its electric Folgore line, and especially the electric Quattroporte sedan. But hold on to your hats because it seems like Maserati is hitting a few bumps on the electric road.

You see, Maserati initially had plans for electric versions of the GranTurismo and the Grecale. However, they’ve hit some speed bumps, and now the electric Quattroporte is also in the hot seat. What’s the deal, you ask? Maserati claims they’re sweating over the performance numbers of their electric machines, but there’s a little birdie whispering about Stellantis wanting to cut costs for the brand.

The previous-gen Quattroporte said its goodbyes in Q4 of 2023, available with V6 or V8 power but not electrified. The smaller Ghibli bowed out last year too, and there’s no successor in sight. Maserati is banking on the next-gen QP to be the star of the sedan show. But here’s the kicker – 1,000 employees are getting the pink slip from the Mirafiori factory where the Quattroporte was crafted. Even the Modena factory, home to the MC20 sports car, is shedding 220 jobs due to a “steep decrease in market demand” for the quarter-million dollar two-seater. Ouch!

Stellantis isn’t playing around either. They’ve reportedly asked suppliers to cut parts costs by six percent. Now, in the world of luxury cars, where every detail matters, a six percent cut is no small feat. Could this be a sign that the electric sedan dream might be fading away?

Maserati’s CEO dropped a bombshell, mentioning that the “successor to the Quattroporte will be all-electric and will be unveiled in early 2025.” However, Automotive News Europe is singing a different tune, reporting that the company has put the brakes on all electric sedan development due to the need to play it safe with the new car’s performance. So, the early 2025 reveal might just be wishful thinking.

If, after six generations dating back to 1963, this is how the legendary Quattroporte bids adieu, it’s undoubtedly a sad farewell for an icon in the automotive world. Stay tuned for more twists and turns on this electric road trip with Maserati… Hopefully some good news coming in the near future!