This is how BYD and other Chinese car manufacturers will gobble up the European automotive industry. Will they start with Maserati?

The Chinese brand Byd is beginning to reveal its moves for the Old Continent. The Shenzhen company has always had Europe in its sights, as demonstrated by the choice to entrust the strategies to be carried out in this part of the world to Alfredo Altavilla, the historic right-hand man of Sergio Marchionne at Fca and therefore a deep connoisseur of the EU market, its quirks, its peculiarities and, of course, also the weaknesses of its historic players.

As we wrote a few weeks ago, the rapid saturation of the Chinese market, with the end of state aid that made bloom well over 100 very aggressive players, is pushing especially Byd to accelerate towards internationalization so as not to slow down the triple-digit growth and production rates it has accustomed its shareholders to. The US, as is known, has entrenched itself behind protectionist rules (and others are being defined), so now the preferred destination for Byd cars is certainly Europe.

It is therefore no coincidence that Stella Li (in the photo), number two of the Shenzhen brand, responsible for its internationalization, admitted what had so far been furiously bouncing around the media and Stellantis had preferred not to confirm, namely that negotiations are underway to take over underutilized plants.

And immediately the thought of the Italian newspapers inevitably runs to Cassino and Mirafiori, which the harsh production figures of the Group carefully kept by Fim-Cisl tell us are in serious crisis, stuck in layoffs and without any certainty regarding the near future. For this reason, the unions have returned to demand assurances ahead of the May 21 meeting between the Italo-French company and investors during which CEO Antonio Filosa will reveal the projects in the pipeline for the 14 brands in the company portfolio.

In fact, the Byd vice president told the press that the company, rather than renting or coexisting with local counterparts, would prefer to take over the hubs themselves, an option considered “easier” by the brand. And since Chinese know-how in electric cars sold at budget prices, which European manufacturers have not yet managed to match, is involved, it is also easy to understand why.

Stella Li also admitted that Byd “is not only talking with Stellantis, but also with other companies,” the Asian top manager said to Bloomberg. “We are looking for any available plant in Europe because we want to exploit this unused production capacity,” she added.

VW PLANT IN DRESDEN ALSO IN THE SIGHTS

The number two thus also confirms the rumors that have emerged in recent days regarding the possible establishment of Byd in Germany, at the Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden, the first factory Volkswagen was forced to close due to the crisis of the last period in 88 years of history. To the pain of those gates sadly closed would be added the shame of seeing the Chinese arrive there, who have become a power in the automotive industry thanks to the colonizing work of the German industry, present in the Asian country for four decades.

BYD TARGETS MASERATI?

Returning, however, to matters that risk concerning us closely, Byd would not limit itself to targeting only struggling European plants, but also historic European brands in crisis, defined by the Chinese giant’s vice president as “very interesting,” although she then specified that at the current moment “no action has been taken.”

In this case, predictably, press rumors converge on the Italian brands in Stellantis’ portfolio – although Filosa has said and repeated that there is no intention to sell – from Lancia to Alfa Romeo, up to of course Maserati which emblematic with its very low numbers represents the crisis gripping the European automotive industry, also involving premium stables. And it is known: the Chinese love Italian luxury and style.

MASERATI CROSSES PATHS WITH OTHER CHINESE BRANDS?

In recent hours another ‘rumor has spread that on one hand distances the hypothesis of a Maserati sale but on the other strengthens the hypothesis of a “Chinese future” for the Italian trident. According to rather persistent rumors, Huawei, Jac Motors and Stellantis are working on a program for the development of hi-tech electric cars, with mass production planned very soon, namely for the second half of 2026. This project should be unveiled on May 21 and fall under the Maserati brand. Although a definitive agreement has not yet been signed, several sources already consider two cars certain: a Maextro model for China, the result of the Huawei-JAC collaboration, and a version with the Maserati brand for international markets.

The collaboration would be structured to follow Huawei’s HIMA alliance model, which assigns specialized roles to each partner to optimize product launch timing: therefore the software house known for smartphones, tablets and smartwatches but also active in software and operating systems production will define the product and provide the basic technologies, the compatriot Jac will oversee R&D and production while Maserati will contribute with its design expertise and naturally bring the value of its brand known worldwide.

MEANWHILE BYD SCOOPS UP EUROPEAN TALENTS

As detailed as they are, these are still only rumors at the moment. The certainty lies elsewhere: while Byd waits to land its strongest blows, Stella Li candidly admitted that it is scouting European engineering talents taken from local car manufacturers: “We are hiring a lot of staff for R&D in the UK, France and other regions,” the top manager said. Quattroruote speaks of figures coming from Mercedes and Porsche.

The same strategy, moreover, has been implemented in recent months by another Chinese giant: Xiaomi, which recently opened its new Research and Development hub in Germany, in Munich, drawing many workers away from neighboring Bmw.