Fiat Reportedly Nearing Deal to Build New Maserati Levante SUV in Italy

First announced as a US-manufactured, Maserati-badged Jeep Grand Cherokee with a reskin, the Levante has never managed to build  a picture of itself in my head. At first, it didn’t seem that interesting and worth waiting for, sharing all those bits with its Jeep counterpart and not being a real Maserati in that sense.

But then we got wind of a rumor that it may, in fact, be built in Italy and share more components with the sedans, and therefore be less Jeep-like – then the pictures began to finally emerge.

Since it’s meant as a “Latin blend” of a BMX X6 and Porsche Cayenne with five usable seats, we can kind-of see how that could translate into a vehicle, with the same qualities and family face of the other models in the range. Now, a new report by Bloomberg reveals through inside sources that parent-company Fiat is on the verge of officially announcing plans to make the Levante in Italy “as part of an investment plan for the main Mirafiori factory, provided unions agree to concessions such as extending layoffs.”

These layoffs are temporary, and would affect around 5,300 people who would end up staying home “for most of the next year after an existing agreement expires at the end of September.”

It all hinges on the Italian government’s decision whether or not to adopt reform the sector, and make things easier for automakers in the country. Production figures are so low, in fact, that other European nations may overtake the Italians very soon.

By Andrei Nedelea

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