Reports suggest the upcoming Maserati Quattroporte might roll off assembly lines in China. The iconic Italian marque is said to be negotiating with tech powerhouse Huawei and local producer JAC to develop an electric vehicle there.

Citing Chinese outlet Yinjian Insight via CNEVPost, Stellantis - Maserati's parent company - is collaborating with Huawei and JAC on an export-oriented model from the Chinese luxury label Maextro, slated for a 2027 debut.

Maextro stems from a joint effort between JAC - familiar in Australia via its T9 and Hunter PHEV pickup trucks - and Huawei, renowned for its sophisticated advanced driver assistance systems in automobiles.

Debuting in 2025, Maextro's flagship full-size S800 luxury sedan has dominated China's large sedan segment this year, surpassing sales of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series, and Audi A8. Power comes from either a battery-electric setup or an extended-range variant powered by a 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder range extender.

Per the report, Maserati will handle design and branding endorsement, Huawei will spearhead tech development, and JAC will manage production.

Plans call for dual variants: one under the Maextro name for the Chinese market, and Maserati-branded editions for international sales.

Body style details remain vague - a sedan seems probable - as do powertrain specifics, though pure EV or extended-range options are anticipated.

None of the parties have issued statements, but Yinjian Insight notes discussions began early in 2025 and have advanced considerably.

Back in 2023, Maserati revealed plans for an all-electric Quattroporte Folgore sedan in 2025, aligning with its shift away from combustion engines.

That timeline shifted in 2024 to a 2028 launch, and 2025 reports hinted at plug-in hybrid tech for the model. The proposed China-built version's 2027 timeframe aligns closely with these updates.

This development unfolds amid Maserati's mounting financial woes, fueling speculation that Stellantis may divest the heritage brand. Suitors reportedly include Xpeng and Xiaomi.

BYD has expressed curiosity too, with executive vice president Stella Li telling Automotive News that Maserati is "very interesting." She added: "We keep on studying. But we did not have any action on that."

Those remarks coincided with Automotive News coverage of Stellantis talks with Chinese firms to utilize idle capacity at European plants, such as Italy's Cassino facility that builds the Grecale SUV.

Maserati's global deliveries totaled just 11,127 units in 2025, down from 14,725 in 2024 and 26,689 in 2023. In Australia, 264 units moved last year versus 377 in 2024 and 638 in 2023.

China's vehicle market exceeded 30 million sales last year - almost double the U.S. figure - yet Maserati managed under 1000 units.

Contrast that with Maextro's S800, which sold 1142 examples in April 2026 alone and tops its category with 5465 units from January to April 2026.

Compounding challenges, rivals like Ferrari and McLaren enjoyed robust global figures, and Lamborghini hit a five-year sales record at 10,747 vehicles.

Maserati fell outside Stellantis's priority quartet - Peugeot, Ram, Fiat, and Jeep - for major investments under its updated strategy.

Similarly, Stellantis recently revealed plans to produce Peugeot vehicles in China for potential export to regions like Europe and Australia.

The company already partners with Leapmotor on a joint venture, and Opel/Vauxhall is crafting a model using Leapmotor components. Yet Leapmotor lacks luxury expertise, prompting Stellantis to seek other allies for Maserati.

Maextro plans a V800 luxury minivan soon, leaving room in its lineup for a Quattroporte rival below the 5.48m S800. The prior Quattroporte measured 5266mm.