The Maserati MC20 Folgore has officially been cancelled, confirming our report from last week. A company spokesperson has said that the decision was made due to insufficient demand for an electric supercar. In place of the MC20 EV, Maserati will comprehensively update the existing model, reports our sister publication Autocar UK.
- Updated MC20 likely to draw from the GT2 Stradale
- Sales slump blamed for Stellantis’ investment write-off
Regarding the cancellation, Philippe Claverol, Head of Overseas Markets, Maserati, speaking to Autocar India said, "What we are seeing is that, on one side, the traditional luxury car buyer, who is looking for high-performance cars, definitely wants petrol engines. The sound is important, the sensations are important. Electric supercars are a tough sell, and that’s why we’ve decided not to launch the electric MC20. On the other hand, you have people looking for luxury SUVs, and this is where we see a new generation of customers. In markets where we’ve launched the Grecale Folgore, for example, we see people we’ve never seen before – some already owning an electric car and saying, 'I’m looking for an EV, but something exclusive now.'"
Maserati EV plans likely to be revised
The MC20 Folgore was originally one of six Maserati EVs that were expected to make their debut by 2026. Maserati had promised the electric version of the supercar would have a massive power output, and a similar character to the V6-engined MC20.
Maserati MC20 update details
The update for the supercar is likely to borrow from the GT2 Stradale, which comes with a 640hp (10hp more) version of the V6 engine, 60kg in weight reduction and a track-focused chassis set-up. Other highlights include a top speed of 324kph and a 0-100kph time of 2.8 seconds.
Stellantis investment and Maserati sales
The cancellation of the MC20 Folgore, and the news that an update is planned, comes after Maserati parent company Stellantis wrote off an investment of about 1.5 billion euro (about Rs 13,640 crore) in the Italian brand. Stellantis executives partly blamed the pulling of investment on a slump in sales in China – the company’s second largest market, after the US.
“We have to recognise the dynamics in that business, particularly in the Chinese market, and our expectations in terms of how quickly that luxury market would transition to electrification,” said Doug Ostermann, Stellantis’ CFO.
In the last year, Maserati’s sales more than halved, falling to 11,300 units worldwide. Its profits in 2024 have also dropped to 260 million euro (about Rs 2,455 crore), which is a serious declive after recording a profit of 141 million euro (about Rs 1,330 crore) in 2023.
New Levante and Quattroporte launch plans uncertain
The move suggests that Maserati is rethinking the revival plan it formulated when it came under Stellantis ownership four years ago. That plan focused on EVs, with ICE models being phased out by 2030. It also brings into doubt the future of the next-generation Levante SUV, due in 2027, and the new Quattroporte sedan, which was previously delayed by three years to 2028. Both these models were meant to go all-electric.
Maserati MC20 India price
Maserati Grecale and GranTurismo also on sale in India
The MC20 is on sale in India and is priced at Rs 3.69 crore. Mserati also has the Grecale SUV (from Rs 1.31 crore onwards) and the GranTurismo (from Rs 2.72 crore onwards) available in the country.. The Italian brand had said that the all-electric GranTurismo Folgore would be brought to India this year, though has yet to confirm a launch date.
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