PARIS: Stellantis NV has hired McKinsey & Co. for strategic advice on Maserati and Alfa Romeo as pressure mounts due to Donald Trump's escalating trade war, according to people familiar with the situation.
Chairman John Elkann has asked the consultancy to assess options for the brands including partnering with manufacturers to access new technology, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private information.
While some Asian companies expressed interest, the considerations are at an early stage, the people said. Longer-term scenarios include spinning off Maserati, they said.
"McKinsey has been asked to provide its considerations regarding the recently announced US tariffs for Alfa Romeo and Maserati," a spokesman for the brands said, declining to further comment.
McKinsey didn't immediately reply to requests for comment.
Elkann is under pressure to turn around Maserati and Alfa Romeo as Trump's 25% auto tariffs threaten to shave billions of euros off Stellantis' earnings.
The automaker has been offering fresh discounts in the US to ease fears that the levies will make its cars much more expensive.
Stellantis was formed in 2021 by combining Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA Group, a move meant to provide scale to better compete with the likes of Volkswagen AG and Toyota Motor Corp.
But managing 14 automotive brands ranging from Peugeot and Fiat to Jeep and Chrysler has proved challenging.
Maserati recorded an adjusted operating loss of €260 million ($285 million) last year after its vehicle sales slumped by more than half.
About 35% to 40% of the luxury-car brand's customers are in the US, Maserati Chief Executive Officer Santo Ficili told reporters last month.
Every Maserati and Alfa Romeo sold in the country has to be imported as the brands don't have factories outside of Europe. Elkann has no plans to sell the brands to a Chinese rival, the people said.
The chairman, who plans to shift output of Maseratis to one of Italy's most underused car factories amid efforts to repair relations with Rome, last month warned that Trump's tariffs could weigh on auto production in the country.
Meanwhile, Maserati is stepping up customization of its luxury cars as it seeks to attract wealthier clients and bolster profits.
Under former CEO Carlos Tavares, Stellantis cut back investments and shifted production to lower-cost countries, angering politicians, unions and dealers in its key markets.
The manufacturer has been trying to regain share in the US by cutting prices, boosting incentives and filling out gaps in its product lineup.
