Summary
- Maserati has canceled an all-electric version of its MC20 supercar due to insufficient demand in the super sports car market.
- The cancellation suggests Maserati’s commitment to phasing out gasoline cars by the end of the decade is weakening.
- Maserati aimed to offer fully electric versions of every model by 2025 and have an all-electric lineup by 2030.
- Despite canceling the electric MC20, Maserati has successfully launched electric versions of the Grecale, GranTurismo, and GranCabrio models.
- Other luxury brands like Bentley and Porsche have also noted challenges with demand for high-end EVs, but still plan to transition to electric vehicles in the future.
Article
Maserati has opted to cancel an all-electric version of its MC20 supercar due to a lack of customer interest. This decision, reported on March 6 by Evo, is a clear sign that Maserati’s original goal of phasing out gasoline cars by the end of the decade may be faltering. The official statement from the automaker cited a forecast of insufficient demand in the super sports car market for a battery electric vehicle as the reason for the project’s cancellation.
In 2022, Maserati had announced plans to offer fully electric versions of every model by 2025 and ultimately transition to an all-electric lineup by 2030. However, the timeline had been accelerated to 2028, with the removal of V-8 engines being the first step in phasing out gasoline engines. Despite these plans, the cancellation of the all-electric MC20 suggests that the automaker may face challenges in reaching its electrification goals.
Prior to the cancellation of the all-electric MC20, Maserati had been making progress with its electrification plans. The brand had already introduced electric versions of the Grecale compact crossover, GranTurismo coupe, and GranCabrio convertible. These launches, particularly the convertible EVs, presented additional engineering challenges but were successfully completed.
Aside from the MC20, Maserati had also intended to release electric versions of its upcoming Quattroporte sedan and Levante SUV under the Folgore branding, which means lightning in Italian. However, no updates have been provided about the progress of these models. Other luxury brands, like Bentley and Porsche, have also faced challenges with the demand for high-end EVs. Bentley CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser acknowledged in a September 2024 interview that the luxury market was hesitant to embrace electric cars, even though Bentley plans to launch its first EV in 2027 and transition to an all-electric lineup by 2035.
The slow adoption of high-end EVs among luxury brands like Maserati, Bentley, and Porsche indicates that the industry’s transition to electric vehicles may be more complex and challenging than initially anticipated. Despite the cancellation of the all-electric MC20, Maserati’s commitment to electrifying its lineup remains, with electric versions of existing models already in production. The brand, along with its counterparts in the luxury market, will need to continue navigating consumer preferences and technological advancements to achieve their electrification goals.
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