Maserati working with JAC and Huawei

CarExpert reported on May 14 that Maserati is working with China’s JAC and Huawei on new models that could be built in China and exported under the Italian luxury brand. The report, citing Chinese outlet Yinjian Insight via CNEVPost, said the talks involve Maserati owner Stellantis and have been under way since early 2025. No company involved has announced a deal. Stellantis did not publicly confirm the report in the materials reviewed by Reuters, and CarExpert said no official announcements had been made. ### Which companies are named in the report, and what would each one do? CarExpert said Maserati would design and “endorse” the vehicle, Huawei would lead development and supply core technologies, and JAC would handle manufacturing. The May 14 report said two versions are being discussed: a Maextro-badged model for sale in China and an export version presented as a Maserati. CarExpert said the body style and final powertrain remain unclear, though a sedan appears likely and battery-electric or extended-range electric formats are both possible. (carexpert.com.au) ### Why does Maextro matter to this story? JAC and Huawei already operate the Maextro luxury-car project in China. JAC said on December 16, 2024, that the companies had inaugurated a “MAEXTRO Super Factory” in Hefei, Anhui province, after the Maextro S800’s debut in November 2024. JAC said the Hefei plant was jointly built by JAC Group and Huawei and, at full capacity, is expected to generate annual output value of more than 100 billion yuan. (carexpert.com.au) The company also said the factory uses nearly 1,500 intelligent robots and applies Huawei-linked digital systems across research, production and service functions. (jacen.jac.com.cn) TechNode, citing Yunjian Insight, reported on May 14 that the proposed Maserati structure would mirror Huawei’s existing smart-car partnerships. That description is consistent with CarExpert’s account that Huawei would provide the electronics and software while JAC manufactures. (jacen.jac.com.cn) ### Is this tied to Maserati’s electric-car plans? Maserati has already committed publicly to electric models under its Folgore label. Stellantis’ Maserati media site said on October 29, 2025, that the Grecale Folgore was part of the brand’s all-electric range, following the GranTurismo Folgore. (technode.com) CarExpert said Maserati had previously announced in 2023 that it would launch an electric Quattroporte Folgore in 2025, then confirmed in 2024 that the flagship sedan had been delayed to 2028. The outlet said the reported China-developed model, targeted for around 2027, would roughly overlap with that timing. (media.stellantis.com) ### What does the report say about where the cars would be sold? CarExpert said the China-market version would wear the Maextro badge, while export markets would receive a vehicle presented as a Maserati. That would open the possibility of a Maserati-branded EV built in China for sale outside China, according to the report. (carexpert.com.au) JAC’s international website says the company already sells vehicles in overseas markets, though it does not mention Maserati or this reported project. That existing export footprint is one reason the manufacturing side of the report is drawing attention, though no company has disclosed production locations or launch markets for any joint Maserati model. (carexpert.com.au) ### How does this fit into Stellantis’ current reporting on Maserati? Stellantis said in its April 15, 2026, Q1 shipments release that Maserati is no longer reported as a separate segment from January 1, 2026, and that comparative figures were restated. The filing did not mention JAC, Huawei or a China-built Maserati program. (jacen.jac.com.cn) Stellantis said on February 26, 2026, that the group posted a net loss of 22.3 billion euros for 2025 after unusual charges, while executives said 2025 was a year of reset and that the company expected progressive improvement in 2026. The company’s public filings reviewed here did not provide a new standalone Maserati strategy update tied to China. (stellantis.com) ### What should readers watch next? May 21 is Stellantis Investor Day, according to the company’s investor calendar. That event is the next scheduled public forum where executives could be asked about Maserati, its electric-vehicle timetable, or any reported work with JAC and Huawei. (stellantis.com 1) (stellantis.com 2)