All Maserati models to feature electrification by 2019?

Out of all the brands Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) currently has in its portfolio, you’d probably least expect Maserati to be the flag bearer of electrification, after Ferrari. That is exactly what the luxury Italian marque will be, however, with all new models coming to market after 2019 expected to be made up with hybrid or fully-electric vehicles, according to Automotive News.

That’s the promise made by FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne, as part of the conglomerate’s big push in the technology – the company is poised to electrify more than half of its lineup by 2022. Among the vehicles Maserati plans to introduce after the next couple of years are all-electric models that will compete with Tesla.

“When it completes the development of its next two models, it will effectively switch all of its portfolio to electrification,” Marchionne said during a conference call to discuss FCA’s second quarter earnings. “It’s an integral part of the development of all of the group.”

Currently, Maserati does not have any electric or hybrid vehicles in its stable, but Ferrari, with which it shares engines, will be experiencing a “fundamental shift” towards hybridisation from 2019, according to comments that Marchionne himself made last year.

The Italian-Canadian executive said that the greater industry’s move to electric vehicles was mainly motivated by the numerous diesel emissions cheating scandals that have been brought to light recently. “What has really made the issue absolutely mandatory now is the fate of diesel…especially in Europe.

“Some type of electrification on gas engines is inevitable,” Marchionne said. This follows announcements by certain European countries of plans to ban petrol and diesel vehicles in the future, including Norway by 2025 and France and the United Kingdom by 2040.

The greater FCA group has been slow on the uptake of electrified powertrains, due to cost and lack of demand. So far, the company has only produced the plug-in Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid MPV and the fully-electric Fiat 500e, the latter being the car Marchionne previously told customers not to buy because it incurs thousands of dollars in losses on each one sold.

According to Marchionne, the biggest issue concerning FCA’s electrification strategy concerns the reduction in variable production costs such as batteries and motors, rather than the research and development of electric or hybrid powertrains. He said that those costs will not come down quickly, adding that a huge increase of pricing will be needed between 2021 and 2022 to shrink demand.

Further FCA product plans will be disclosed early next year during an investor day, in order to outline its newest five-year plan up to 2022, Marchionne said.

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