Maserati Could Follow Ferrari And Porsche By Going Public

Nov. 06, 2022 11:43 AM ET by Jarryd Neves Sports Cars / 2 Comments

If the premium brand can remain profitable and successful, a Maserati listing is likely.

Stellantis Chief Financial Officer Richard Palmer has suggested that Maserati may become a standalone brand, should it prove profitable and sustainable, reports Automotive News Europe. While no official decision has been made, Maserati would be the latest high-end automaker to be listed on the stock exchange.

Ferrari left its then-parent company Fiat in 2015 and was soon joined by Aston Martin, which was listed in 2018. The latest brand to join the fray is Porsche, which was recently listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Even though these companies have all gone in the same direction, some are having trouble shooting the lights out.

Aston Martin and Polestar - which has also gone public - have struggled to emulate the success of Ferrari and even Porsche. Would Maserati, a brand with a rocky financial past, prove a success if listed?

It's too soon to say, but the numbers tell an interesting story. Under Stellantis' care, the Italian brand has grown stronger. Since the formation of the multinational automotive corporation, Maserati sales soared to 24,300 units in 2021, representing an increase of 41%.

Profits took a turn for the better too, with revenue up by 47% to over €2 billion (just under $2 billion at current rates). Thanks to the introduction of the MC20 supercar, the depressing €91 million operating loss in 2020 pivoted to a €103 million adjusted operating profit just a year later.

And it looks like the company is still on a hot streak, with third-quarter revenues showing a 23% improvement compared to the same period last year. This is thanks to the newly-launched Grecale, says Palmer. The premium SUV is the brand's most attainable product ever and should bring Maserati within reach of millions more.

2023 Maserati Grecale Steering Wheel Design

So when can we expect a Maserati listing to hit the stock exchange? It won't happen anytime soon, as the Modena-based marque looks to move to electrification in the coming years, and rejig the existing lineup.

"I am very optimistic and confident that we can build a very interesting luxury car business, and eventually at some point in time that could be an asset that can stand on its own. Clearly, it has a very strong brand, its own network, and a very independent type of business, even in the way we run it inside Stellantis," added the CFO.

Electrification is a big part of Maserati's future. The company has already revealed the new GranTurismo, which will be made available with a conventional V6 or an electric powertrain. This model, called the Folgore, will be joined by an electric Grecale and MC20 in the coming years.

2021-2023 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo Frontal Aspect

2021-2023 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo Rearward Vision

2021-2023 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo Side Perspective Driving

2021-2023 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo Interior Overview

Elsewhere, the lackluster Ghibli will be killed off, with no plans made to replace the underwhelming product. This is expected to happen in 2024, and will also see the iconic V8 engine retired for good. Interestingly, the Quattroporte will remain but shrink in size to fill both gaps.

"The plan is for the Ghibli and Quattroporte to become one. So the Quattroporte will become a short-wheelbase [vehicle] - Ghibli-sized, but called a Quattroporte," said Maserati Australia's Grant Barling at the time.

Expect convertible variants of the GranTurismo to debut, along with an electric Levante successor.

"The frequency of launches is a big focus," said Palmer. "In the past that has been our biggest issue, because we would launch a vehicle and leave an extended gap to the next one. The important thing is to maintain enough novelty value in the lineup and continue to refresh it."