Maserati to use Airbus technology

It's commonplace for car-makers to form alliances to share technology and platform architectures, but Maserati has moved to join forces with aeronautics company Airbus.

Exactly what the partnership will yield remains to be seen, but the 'master agreement' signed between the two companies provides Maserati with access to "aeronautics and space and relative services" via Airbus Group Innovations, the company's R&D hub.

The landmark agreement is being touted as more than just a pie-in-the-sky endeavour, with French aviation leader Airbus suggesting that the "multi-year" deal will allow Maserati to identify various technologies that could be "game changers when utilised under license and applied to its automobile product line".

The fruits of the alliance could be tangible as early as 2016, when
Maserati is expected to launch its low-volume Porsche 911 Turbo rival,
the Alfieri. The company's upcoming prestige SUV, Levante, could also benefit from a number of advances if Maserati gets its skates on.

Clearly the prestige Italian car-maker wants to cement its place as an innovator in the automotive industry, with the use of light-weight composites and metals and the adoption of different manufacturing and computing systems for its cars all potential outcomes.

The Italian automotive company has conceded it lags behind its rivals such as Mercedes-Benz, when it comes to integrating new technology in its vehicles, and this is a signal that Maserati is serious about elevating its status in technology terms.

There's no talk of a jet-powered car just yet, however.

The agreement between Maserati and Airbus Group Innovations was signed and sealed in Modena at Maserati HQ, and provides the company access to the R&D group's extensive research portfolio, including the likes of metallurgy and composites expertise, systems integration, manufacturing processes and production methods.

Harald Wester, Maserati CEO and Fiat Chrysler CTO, was the architect behind the pioneering agreement: "By evaluating this broad spectrum of technologies, Maserati can benefit from Airbus Group capabilities exploited in several applications, such as airliners, helicopters and fast jets to spacecraft that are exploring the universe."

The Airbus Group's chief of technology licensing, Wulf Hoeflich, noted that the tech-sharing deal signed with Maserati is not something entered into lightly, and would be "selectively offered to a limited number of potential partners."

"Maserati is perfect for an agreement of this type, as the company is a benchmark in high-end automobiles, while having production volume that is flexible enough to implement new technologies," he said.

Hoeflich added that the Maserati CEO, Wester, played a key part in formalising the deal.

"He recognized the Technology Transfer Framework's value, and is ready to lead his teams in making the best use of the significant access to Airbus Group Innovations' know-how that comes with this agreement," said Hoeflich.

Maserati has posted record profits so far in 2014, thanks to a tripling of its sales in the first three quarters of the year, from 7548 in 2013 to 26,428 units in 2014.

It's not clear what the deal is worth in financial terms, but it's likely that the deal will be partly funded by Maserati's recent €2 billion investment in new products.