Stellantis is offering its employees discounted Maserati vehicles, with prices ranging from €80,000 to €180,000. An email announcement has been sent out, including to employees currently on temporary layoff, stating: “Dear colleague, we are pleased to inform you that starting in September, you will have the opportunity to purchase a new Maserati at special conditions for you, your family, and your friends.” The offer includes three models: the Grecale, produced in Cassino, and the GranTurismo and GranCabrio, manufactured in Mirafiori. This move has sparked political backlash following recent news of voluntary and temporary relocations to Poland.
The political response has been sharp. Chiara Appendino, deputy and vice president of the Five Star Movement (M5S), criticized the initiative on Facebook, suggesting a rule akin to Olivetti’s, where top executives should not earn more than ten times their employees’ salaries. Carlo Calenda condemned the proposal as not only insulting but indicative of an unravelling company and dire conditions at Maserati, urging Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to call for a meeting with Stellantis leaders John Elkann and Carlos Tavares. Roberto Ravello of Fratelli d’Italia expressed concern over the company’s handling of the situation, while Fiom, the Italian metalworkers’ union, emphasized the need for practical solutions rather than controversy.
Stellantis responded by calling the criticism instrumental and expressed dismay at the hostility towards the company. The company explained that the discount initiative was driven by employee requests for special deals for friends and family and was subsequently extended group-wide. Stellantis highlighted that Maserati employees already benefit from special vehicle usage for personal events like weddings and are developing a program for additional test-drive opportunities.
In the midst of this controversy, Stellantis has announced a $406 million investment in three Michigan facilities to support its multi-energy strategy. Sterling Heights Assembly Plant will be the company’s first U.S. site to produce a fully electric vehicle, the Ram 1500 Rev, a new addition to their lineup of light-duty electric pickups. The investment will also support Jeep’s future developments. Stellantis aims to invest over €50 billion in electrification, targeting a 100% electric vehicle sales mix in Europe by 2030 and a 50% mix in the U.S. for both passenger and light commercial vehicles.
