Maserati

On December 1, 1914, Alfieri Maserati and his brothers Bindo, Ettore, and Ernesto founded a workshop in Bologna, Italy, that would become one of the world's most storied luxury car marques. The Maserati brothers had been building race cars for Diatto, but when Diatto suspended production in 1926, they struck out on their own. That same year, a Maserati driven by Alfieri won the Targa Florio, putting the fledgling brand on the map. The company's emblem, a trident, was borrowed from the Fountain of Neptune in Bologna, a symbol of strength and grace that still adorns every Maserati grille.

In 1937 the Orsi family bought the company, and three years later the headquarters moved from Bologna to Modena, where they remain today. Maserati became the only Italian manufacturer to win the Indianapolis 500, taking the checkered flag in 1939 and again in 1940. After a string of racing successes, the company withdrew from competition in the 1950s to focus on road cars. The 1957 3500 GT was Maserati's first series-produced grand tourer, setting the template for the elegant, high-performance machines that followed. Ownership shifted to Citroën in 1968, which brought models like the mid-engined Bora and the Merak, and later to Fiat and then Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Since 2021, Maserati has been part of Stellantis, the global automotive group formed from the merger of FCA and PSA Group.

Today Maserati's lineup includes the Quattroporte luxury sedan, the Ghibli executive sedan, the Levante SUV, and the MC20 supercar, a mid-engined powerhouse that revives the brand's racing DNA. The company employs about 2,265 people and reported revenue of €2.3 billion in 2023. Yet challenges remain: production fell from 26,600 vehicles in 2023 to just 11,300 in 2024, and the brand faces stiff competition from better-known luxury rivals like Porsche and Ferrari. Under CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato, Maserati is betting on electrification and the halo effect of the MC20 to chart a comeback. [edit]