Maserati Will Get BMW's Autonomous Technology

With news of Ferrari no longer supplying engines to Maserati, it's a little surprising then that BMW has stepped up to the plate - albeit in a different way. While Maserati uses the ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox in some of their vehicles (while not manufactured by BMW, it's something we heavily associate with them), their onboard systems have always been a little bit sketchy. Perhaps this may no longer be the case, as BMW is going to be supplying Maserati with autonomous driving technologies.

It will be the first of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) brands to be receiving this technology. For now, it will be limited to assisted driving on highways - although there has yet to be an official release date for such functionality in Maserati vehicles. FCA joined a self-driving technology consortium led by BMW back in 2017, but they also have partnerships for vehicle development with Google affiliate Waymo and auto supplier Aptiv. 

As a company, however, Maserati isn't feeling so good. The Italian brand has seen a sharp decline in sales - around 32% in the first three months of the year. Much of this is due to massive drops in demand from China, as other manufacturers ramp up their offerings in both conventional and electric powertrain forms, which has left Maserati in a bit of a pickle.