It was good while it lasted, but it appears that Maserati’s sales boom is beginning to fade.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is reportedly cutting Maserati production in Italy as demand for the Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans is dwindling.
According to a statement from Italy’s Fismic union cited by Bloomberg, Maserati’s Grugliasco plant on the outskirts of Turin will halt Ghibli and Quattroporte production in the first week of November. As a result, about 2,000 employees at the site will be put on temporary furloughs. It will be the second production pause this year following a similar move in September.
Things are not dramatic, though. “We aren’t worried about the future. Maserati’s investment in Grugliasco is one of the most positive events in the Turin area in the last 10 years,” Vincenzo Aragona, national secretary for Fismic, said in the statement. He added that the manufacturer will use the break to prepare the assembly lines for new production.
FCA is expanding Maserati to help offset the loss of Ferrari, which will become a standalone company in early next year. In order to boost Maserati sales, the company will launch its first SUV next year, the Levante. FCA is also considering building a sports car based on the Alfieri concept.
Following a sales boom fueled by the launch of the Ghibli sedan, Maserati deliveries dropped 13 percent in the second quarter this year. As a result, the company’s operating profit fell 30 percent to €43 million ($48 million). The sales decline was most acute in markets like China.
Thanks to Sebastian for the heads up!
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