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Maserati
and Ferrari set to Merge!
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| As recently reported in the European motoring
press and mentioned in The Age by Bill Tuckey (March 27, 1997) the two Italian supercar
marques are set to merge. In what amounts to a radical reorganisation, Maserati (acquired
by Fiat Auto in 1993) has been moved from Fiat Auto's direct control to become a
subsidiary, merged with Ferrari, under the control of the Fiat holding company. Indeed
based on the reports, the process is underway! Until now, Ferrari was the only Fiat marque
controlled directly by the Fiat holding company, rather than Fiat Auto. Fiat owns 100 per
cent of Maserati and 90 per cent of Ferrari. The family of Piero-Lardi Ferrari, Enzo's
son, still controls 10 percent of Ferrari. The move follows disappointing sales results by Maserati and the confirmation of the retirement of Eugenio Alzati, Maserati's Managing Director due later this year. Whilst no official date for the change has been announced, the two companies were scheduled to be working together from early April. Confirmation of this much-rumoured move comes with the appointment of Fiat engineer Antonio Bene as engineering director of the combined operation. Bene's task is to effectively merge the engineering and manufacturing operations of the two famous marques, but management will remain separate until the retirement later this year of Alzati. Marketing of the two marques is expected to remain separate in most countries though it had been planned to sell the Giugiaro designed Maserati coupe through Ferrari dealerships in the USA. Until recently the coupe, expected to be called the Mistral, was due to be launched at September's Frankfurt show. Now it has been delayed until Geneva next March. Ferrari's new foundry already casts engine blocks for Maserati V6 and V8 engines and has been working with its engineers on the aerodynamics of the new coupe in Maranello's wind tunnel. Maserati is currently operating at only one-third of capacity and last year produced just 830 cars, half the number predicted, and way below the break-even point of 1500. Maserati hopes the new coupe will lift sales to 2500 per year. |
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