110 years Maserati
The Italian brand Maserati celebrated its 110th anniversary on December 1st. In honor of this milestone, a series of electric GranTurismo Folgore 110 Anniversario coupes has been released. The cars are offered in two body color options, Rame Folgore and Blu Inchiostro, and feature copper-hued accents. The interior is adorned with fabric and recycled nylon Econyl finishes. Naturally, each vehicle is marked with commemorative plaques. A total of 110 units will be produced — 55 of each color.
Goodbye, Tavares!
Carlos Tavares, the head of the Stellantis group, has resigned. He was expected to stay with the struggling company until early 2026 before retiring, but he submitted his resignation ahead of time.
Most likely, this hasty resignation was triggered by sharp disagreements with the board of directors, although the official statement only mentions "various points of view." This is not surprising, as under Carlos Tavares, Stellantis's operating profit fell by 40% in the first half of this year: revenue decreased by 14%, and net profit dropped by 48% (to $6.07 billion). In the third quarter, revenue decline intensified to -27%. Sales in the U.S. market fell by 16%, despite overall market growth. Following this, mass layoffs began overseas, which displeased local unions. Additionally, there was an oversupply of unsold vehicles, which outraged dealers. In Europe, Stellantis also faces strained relations with dealers, component suppliers, and unions.
Back in October, the company's board announced personnel changes. The former head of the Jeep brand, Antonio Filosa, has been appointed as the head of the North American division, while Jean-Philippe Imparato, previously leading Alfa Romeo, will now oversee Europe. Stellantis's operational director, Natalie Knight, has stepped down and has been replaced by Doug Ostermann, who previously headed the company’s Chinese division. A successor to Carlos Tavares will be determined in the first half of 2025. Until then, a special committee led by John Elkann, a former FCA executive and the current chairman of the board, will manage Stellantis.
Uchida did not learn the lesson
Nissan is experiencing a serious crisis: layoffs are occurring worldwide, production rates are declining, and some facilities are idling. As admitted by the company's CEO, Makoto Uchida, one of the main reasons for the market failure is the almost complete absence of hybrid models in the lineup. Ironically, it was Makoto Uchida who previously announced a course for full electrification of Nissan, deciding to skip the "hybrid stage."
Recaro found an investor
The well-known German manufacturer of automotive seats, Recaro, which filed for bankruptcy in August, has found an investor in the Italian Proma Group.
Like Recaro, Proma Group specializes in producing automotive components, including seats. According to Proma Group's head, Luca Pino, investing in the German firm will strengthen his company’s position in the premium segment of car seats and enable the introduction of cutting-edge innovations.
Type Zero
Following the much-publicized rebranding, Jaguar unveiled the Type 00 concept car, a manifesto for the reboot and further development of the British brand, which aims to transition from the premium segment to the luxury market.
The two zeros in the name of the electric concept signify zero emissions and the status of a new starting point for the brand's evolution. This is a large, muscular coupe with a massive hood, a sloping roof, and 23-inch wheels. The car features upward-opening "butterfly" doors, and the trunk lid lifts using a parallelogram mechanism.
An interesting feature is an additional compartment in the left front fender: under a sliding cover lies a separate box containing three bars — made of brass, travertine, and alabaster. According to the designers' concept, before each trip, the owner of the Type 00 should select one of these bars and place it in a special compartment in the cabin. The choice of this element will influence the screen graphics, ambient lighting, fragrance, and sound accompaniment.
The standout features of the two-seater cabin are two large-format liftable displays on the dashboard and a central bridge measuring 3.2 meters, extending from the windshield to the trunk. The three key materials used in the interior are luxurious fabric for the seats, brass for decor, and travertine stone for the central box.
Although the Type 00 provides a glimpse into the future of Jaguar electric vehicles, such a vehicle will not be part of the lineup. The first production model, expected by the end of 2025, will be a large four-door GT styled similarly to the concept. It will be built on the JEA (Jaguar Electric Architecture) platform. Some key specifications include approximately 1000 hp, a range of 770 km on a single charge according to the WLTP cycle, and the ability to replenish 320 km of range in just 15 minutes at a charging station. The first Jaguar of this new era is set to launch in 2026, to be produced in the UK and priced starting at £120,000. Two more models on the same platform are promised to follow.
In the meantime, Jaguar will be clearing out inventory of previous models, most of which are already out of production, working on changing its image, and restructuring its dealer network. Sales of luxury electric vehicles will be handled exclusively by select boutiques, with the first opening in Paris.