Stellantis plots lifeline for Alfa and Maserati
Stellantis has announced a new strategy aimed at securing the future of two of its most loved brands: Alfa Romeo and Maserati.
The two brands, both known for their rich heritage and performance, have been among the weakest performers in Stellantis' 14-brand portfolio.
Both are facing declining sales and increasing pressure from global rivals.
In 2024, Alfa Romeo delivered just 8,865 vehicles, a drop of 19 per cent year-on-year.
Maserati was worse, with sales slumping more than 50 per cent despite the launch of new products.
Rather than axing each brand, Stellantis appears to be offering a more streamlined approach, hiring global consulting firm McKinsey and Company to evaluate a strategy for both brands.
The new plan could see Alfa and Maserati jointly develop electric platforms, share infotainment systems and even streamline manufacturing processes.
However Stellantis is adamant that the brand identities will remain distinct.
The strategy is expected to be formally announced after Stellantis' new CEO, Antonio Filosa, takes over later this month.
Speculation around the future of Maserati intensified last year after then-CEO Carlos Tavares warned that Stellantis – who is the world's fifth largest carmaker via sales, after Toyota, the Volkswagen Group, Hyundai and the Renault Nissa Alliance – 'cannot afford to have brands that don't make money.'
His comments sparked rumours that Maserati could be sold or axed altogether.
Stellantis has previously stated that each of its 14 brands would be given a decade to prove their viability.
But both brands even under this new alignment will continue to face aggressive competition from Chinese and European entrant, with rivals offering advanced technology at affordable prices.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
13 hours ago
- News.com.au
New cars coming to Australia in 2025: Ute war to erupt
Despite the busy start to 2025, there's no slowing down for the car industry as the flood of new brands and new models is set to continue unabated until Christmas. And utes will be the headline attraction, with new offers across the spectrum set to appeal to anyone looking for a load lugger of seemingly any shape or size. Here's a look at what's coming soon: Ford Ranger PHEV It will be spearheaded by arguably the single most-anticipated new model of the entire year, the Ford Ranger PHEV. As the name implies, this is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the most-popular new vehicle in the country, so naturally expectations are high. Powered by a 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine supported by an electric motor and batteries, the Ranger PHEV will still have a 3500kg towing capacity, a payload up to 937kg but be able to drive on electric power alone for up to 49km. It won't come cheap though, with the most affordable variant, the XLT, starting at $71,990 (plus on-road costs), well above the $56,990 offer of the rival BYD Shark 6. Kia Tasman If the Ranger PHEV was the most-anticipated new vehicle yet to arrive in 2025, then second place belongs to the Kia Tasman. The long-awaited entrance into the ute market by the popular South Korean brand, the Tasman has already made plenty of headlines – but not always for the right reasons. Its styling is polarising and its 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine sounds modest in comparison to rivals, but with an expansive range and competitive pricing (that begins from $42,990), it has potential to upset the established order. Kia will be hoping its star-studded television commercials, which feature a who's who of Australian sporting superstars, will be enough to get the Tasman on at least the consideration list for as many potential buyers as possible. MG U9 Looming over both of these arrivals, in both a metaphorical and literal way, is the MG U9. The now Chinese-owned brand has big aspirations for Australia and knows the only way to reach the top of the sales charts is with a ute. So it has managed to leverage its considerable might and will offer its own version of the LDV Terron9 (which is also due in Australia this year) and call it the MG U9; as both are owned by Chinese powerhouse, SAIC. This will be a half-size larger than the likes of the Ranger and Tasman, but not quite as big as the American Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado. While we know it will be powered by a turbo diesel engine, we don't know pricing and specification yet, so it's unclear just how strong MG's chances are of making a mark on Australia's competitive ute market. SUVs It's not all utes though, with some important SUVs also on the 'coming soon' list. MG will have a new QS seven-seat SUV as part of its Australian expansion plans, while Volkswagen has confirmed the new Tayron SUV is coming. The Tayron will slot between the Tiguan and Touareg in the German brand's line-up. Subaru also has a new Forester, a long-time Aussie favourite, due in the coming months.
The Advertiser
17 hours ago
- The Advertiser
2026 Jeep Cherokee spied: A better look at forbidden hybrid SUV for Australia
Last month, the 2026 Jeep Cherokee was teased in a pair of official images, which revealed the crisp styling of the SUV brand's revived mid-size SUV. Now, CarExpert has spied a development prototype just outside of Detroit, which has given us a better look at the new hybrid-powered Toyota RAV4 rival. Official imagery didn't show the rear, but these spy photos show slim, wraparound tail lights with chunky internals, bookending a trapezoidal area containing the number plate. The overall look is similar to that of the flagship Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs, though while the next-generation Cherokee is more squared-off than its predecessor, it's not quite as squared-off as its larger stablemates. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The belt line is quite straight but the roof line curves gently, making it less boxy than not only the Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer but also the old GMC Terrain you can see next to it in the below photo. There's only a slightly rounded-off kink at the D-pillar, while the wheel arches are trapezoidal. Up front there's Jeep's seven-slot grille and slim headlights that wrap around the corners and contain U-shaped daytime running lights. We don't yet know dimensions, though we'd expect the new Cherokee to sit somewhere between the old KL generation (4651mm) and the current two-row Grand Cherokee (4915mm) in overall length. It's also unclear which of Stellantis' platforms it'll use: STLA Medium like vehicles including the Peugeot 3008, or STLA Large with vehicles like the Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger. Both of these platforms support pure combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains. The Cherokee is re-entering production late this year after an over two-year absence. Jeep had let the previous KL generation stay in production for 10 years, then axed it without replacement despite mid-size SUVs being a huge segment in markets such as Australia and the US. The new Cherokee will be the first to offer a hybrid powertrain, but Jeep Australia has previously told CarExpert the new Cherokee isn't planned for Australian showrooms. This follows the local axing of the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee in right-hand drive markets earlier this year. Taking its place instead – while also replacing the old Compass – will be the new-generation Compass. This model has grown in size and will offer electric power for the first time, and it's due here during 2026 along with the Recon and Wagoneer S electric vehicles (EVs). The mid-size SUV segment accounted for almost a quarter of new car sales in Australia last year, with 287,637 of the total 1,237,287 total new vehicles sold bring medium SUVs. The previous-generation KL Jeep Cherokee was sold in Australia between 2014 and 2022 with four- and six-cylinder petrol engines. Production ended globally in February 2023. MORE: Everything Jeep Cherokee Content originally sourced from: Last month, the 2026 Jeep Cherokee was teased in a pair of official images, which revealed the crisp styling of the SUV brand's revived mid-size SUV. Now, CarExpert has spied a development prototype just outside of Detroit, which has given us a better look at the new hybrid-powered Toyota RAV4 rival. Official imagery didn't show the rear, but these spy photos show slim, wraparound tail lights with chunky internals, bookending a trapezoidal area containing the number plate. The overall look is similar to that of the flagship Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs, though while the next-generation Cherokee is more squared-off than its predecessor, it's not quite as squared-off as its larger stablemates. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The belt line is quite straight but the roof line curves gently, making it less boxy than not only the Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer but also the old GMC Terrain you can see next to it in the below photo. There's only a slightly rounded-off kink at the D-pillar, while the wheel arches are trapezoidal. Up front there's Jeep's seven-slot grille and slim headlights that wrap around the corners and contain U-shaped daytime running lights. We don't yet know dimensions, though we'd expect the new Cherokee to sit somewhere between the old KL generation (4651mm) and the current two-row Grand Cherokee (4915mm) in overall length. It's also unclear which of Stellantis' platforms it'll use: STLA Medium like vehicles including the Peugeot 3008, or STLA Large with vehicles like the Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger. Both of these platforms support pure combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains. The Cherokee is re-entering production late this year after an over two-year absence. Jeep had let the previous KL generation stay in production for 10 years, then axed it without replacement despite mid-size SUVs being a huge segment in markets such as Australia and the US. The new Cherokee will be the first to offer a hybrid powertrain, but Jeep Australia has previously told CarExpert the new Cherokee isn't planned for Australian showrooms. This follows the local axing of the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee in right-hand drive markets earlier this year. Taking its place instead – while also replacing the old Compass – will be the new-generation Compass. This model has grown in size and will offer electric power for the first time, and it's due here during 2026 along with the Recon and Wagoneer S electric vehicles (EVs). The mid-size SUV segment accounted for almost a quarter of new car sales in Australia last year, with 287,637 of the total 1,237,287 total new vehicles sold bring medium SUVs. The previous-generation KL Jeep Cherokee was sold in Australia between 2014 and 2022 with four- and six-cylinder petrol engines. Production ended globally in February 2023. MORE: Everything Jeep Cherokee Content originally sourced from: Last month, the 2026 Jeep Cherokee was teased in a pair of official images, which revealed the crisp styling of the SUV brand's revived mid-size SUV. Now, CarExpert has spied a development prototype just outside of Detroit, which has given us a better look at the new hybrid-powered Toyota RAV4 rival. Official imagery didn't show the rear, but these spy photos show slim, wraparound tail lights with chunky internals, bookending a trapezoidal area containing the number plate. The overall look is similar to that of the flagship Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs, though while the next-generation Cherokee is more squared-off than its predecessor, it's not quite as squared-off as its larger stablemates. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The belt line is quite straight but the roof line curves gently, making it less boxy than not only the Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer but also the old GMC Terrain you can see next to it in the below photo. There's only a slightly rounded-off kink at the D-pillar, while the wheel arches are trapezoidal. Up front there's Jeep's seven-slot grille and slim headlights that wrap around the corners and contain U-shaped daytime running lights. We don't yet know dimensions, though we'd expect the new Cherokee to sit somewhere between the old KL generation (4651mm) and the current two-row Grand Cherokee (4915mm) in overall length. It's also unclear which of Stellantis' platforms it'll use: STLA Medium like vehicles including the Peugeot 3008, or STLA Large with vehicles like the Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger. Both of these platforms support pure combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains. The Cherokee is re-entering production late this year after an over two-year absence. Jeep had let the previous KL generation stay in production for 10 years, then axed it without replacement despite mid-size SUVs being a huge segment in markets such as Australia and the US. The new Cherokee will be the first to offer a hybrid powertrain, but Jeep Australia has previously told CarExpert the new Cherokee isn't planned for Australian showrooms. This follows the local axing of the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee in right-hand drive markets earlier this year. Taking its place instead – while also replacing the old Compass – will be the new-generation Compass. This model has grown in size and will offer electric power for the first time, and it's due here during 2026 along with the Recon and Wagoneer S electric vehicles (EVs). The mid-size SUV segment accounted for almost a quarter of new car sales in Australia last year, with 287,637 of the total 1,237,287 total new vehicles sold bring medium SUVs. The previous-generation KL Jeep Cherokee was sold in Australia between 2014 and 2022 with four- and six-cylinder petrol engines. Production ended globally in February 2023. MORE: Everything Jeep Cherokee Content originally sourced from: Last month, the 2026 Jeep Cherokee was teased in a pair of official images, which revealed the crisp styling of the SUV brand's revived mid-size SUV. Now, CarExpert has spied a development prototype just outside of Detroit, which has given us a better look at the new hybrid-powered Toyota RAV4 rival. Official imagery didn't show the rear, but these spy photos show slim, wraparound tail lights with chunky internals, bookending a trapezoidal area containing the number plate. The overall look is similar to that of the flagship Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs, though while the next-generation Cherokee is more squared-off than its predecessor, it's not quite as squared-off as its larger stablemates. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The belt line is quite straight but the roof line curves gently, making it less boxy than not only the Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer but also the old GMC Terrain you can see next to it in the below photo. There's only a slightly rounded-off kink at the D-pillar, while the wheel arches are trapezoidal. Up front there's Jeep's seven-slot grille and slim headlights that wrap around the corners and contain U-shaped daytime running lights. We don't yet know dimensions, though we'd expect the new Cherokee to sit somewhere between the old KL generation (4651mm) and the current two-row Grand Cherokee (4915mm) in overall length. It's also unclear which of Stellantis' platforms it'll use: STLA Medium like vehicles including the Peugeot 3008, or STLA Large with vehicles like the Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger. Both of these platforms support pure combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains. The Cherokee is re-entering production late this year after an over two-year absence. Jeep had let the previous KL generation stay in production for 10 years, then axed it without replacement despite mid-size SUVs being a huge segment in markets such as Australia and the US. The new Cherokee will be the first to offer a hybrid powertrain, but Jeep Australia has previously told CarExpert the new Cherokee isn't planned for Australian showrooms. This follows the local axing of the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee in right-hand drive markets earlier this year. Taking its place instead – while also replacing the old Compass – will be the new-generation Compass. This model has grown in size and will offer electric power for the first time, and it's due here during 2026 along with the Recon and Wagoneer S electric vehicles (EVs). The mid-size SUV segment accounted for almost a quarter of new car sales in Australia last year, with 287,637 of the total 1,237,287 total new vehicles sold bring medium SUVs. The previous-generation KL Jeep Cherokee was sold in Australia between 2014 and 2022 with four- and six-cylinder petrol engines. Production ended globally in February 2023. MORE: Everything Jeep Cherokee Content originally sourced from:
7NEWS
17 hours ago
- 7NEWS
2026 Jeep Cherokee spied: A better look at forbidden hybrid SUV for Australia
Last month, the 2026 Jeep Cherokee was teased in a pair of official images, which revealed the crisp styling of the SUV brand's revived mid-size SUV. Now, CarExpert has spied a development prototype just outside of Detroit, which has given us a better look at the new hybrid-powered Toyota RAV4 rival. Official imagery didn't show the rear, but these spy photos show slim, wraparound tail lights with chunky internals, bookending a trapezoidal area containing the number plate. The overall look is similar to that of the flagship Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs, though while the next-generation Cherokee is more squared-off than its predecessor, it's not quite as squared-off as its larger stablemates. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The belt line is quite straight but the roof line curves gently, making it less boxy than not only the Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer but also the old GMC Terrain you can see next to it in the below photo. There's only a slightly rounded-off kink at the D-pillar, while the wheel arches are trapezoidal. Up front there's Jeep's seven-slot grille and slim headlights that wrap around the corners and contain U-shaped daytime running lights. We don't yet know dimensions, though we'd expect the new Cherokee to sit somewhere between the old KL generation (4651mm) and the current two-row Grand Cherokee (4915mm) in overall length. It's also unclear which of Stellantis' platforms it'll use: STLA Medium like vehicles including the Peugeot 3008, or STLA Large with vehicles like the Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger. Both of these platforms support pure combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains. The Cherokee is re-entering production late this year after an over two-year absence. Jeep had let the previous KL generation stay in production for 10 years, then axed it without replacement despite mid-size SUVs being a huge segment in markets such as Australia and the US. The new Cherokee will be the first to offer a hybrid powertrain, but Jeep Australia has previously told CarExpert the new Cherokee isn't planned for Australian showrooms. This follows the local axing of the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee in right-hand drive markets earlier this year. Taking its place instead – while also replacing the old Compass – will be the new-generation Compass. This model has grown in size and will offer electric power for the first time, and it's due here during 2026 along with the Recon and Wagoneer S electric vehicles (EVs). The mid-size SUV segment accounted for almost a quarter of new car sales in Australia last year, with 287,637 of the total 1,237,287 total new vehicles sold bring medium SUVs. The previous-generation KL Jeep Cherokee was sold in Australia between 2014 and 2022 with four- and six-cylinder petrol engines. Production ended globally in February 2023.
