Modena, 28 November 2014 - Today, luxury automobile manufacturer Maserati signed a master agreement providing access to technologies from Airbus Group Innovations, the R&D hub of the Airbus Group - a leader in aeronautics, space and related services.

Concluded at Maserati's Modena headquarters, this agreement enables the company to make in-depth reviews of Airbus Group Innovations' broad portfolio that covers manufacturing processes, production methods, metallics and composites expertise, systems integration and other know-how.

"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," said Harald Wester, Chief Executive Officer of Maserati, and Chief Technology Officer of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

"We developed the Technology Transfer Framework with industry leaders such as Maserati in mind, and it is being selectively offered to a limited number of potential partners," explained Wulf Hoeflich, the Head of Airbus Group Technology Licensing. "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."

Hoeflich noted that Harald Wester has been personally involved in establishing the Technology Transfer Framework arrangement. "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," he added.

With the Technology Transfer Framework arrangement, overview access is to be provided to Maserati across a wide range of Airbus Group Innovations' technical areas during a multi-year period, allowing the company to identify technologies that could be "game changers" when utilized under license and applied to its automobile product line. The cooperation between Maserati and Airbus Group Innovations was supported by Cheers Interactive, the global partner of the Airbus Group Technology Licensing initiative.

About Airbus Group

Airbus Group is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2013, the Group - comprising Airbus, Airbus Defence and Space and Airbus Helicopters - generated revenues of € 57.6 billion (restated) and employed a workforce of around 138,000 (restated).

Technology licensing within the Airbus Group is coordinated through its Corporate Technical Office's New Technology Ventures function, and has the support of top company executives. Managed by Airbus Group Technology Licensing, these licensing activities benefit from an integrated approach encompassing all of the company's activities and operations - opening the resources of its Airbus commercial aircraft business, the Airbus Helicopters rotorcraft manufacturer, and the Airbus Defence and Space unit.

Airbus Group Technology Licensing is part of the open innovation initiatives that look to expand the company's technology scope beyond its core activities, establish new business opportunities and benchmark its capabilities

About Maserati

Maserati is one of the most fascinating car production companies with a long history of appeal, tradition and sporting success. It was founded in Bologna by Alfieri Maserati on 1 December 1914 and established as a mechanical workshop named 'Officine Alfieri Maserati'. In 1926 Maserati was transformed from a workshop, modifying or developing the vehicles of other companies, into a company designing, building and selling its own. The Maserati brothers adopted the symbol of the Trident and made it the logo synthesising the new company in a single image. At the end of the 1930s, following the acquisition of the company by Adolfo Orsi, a businessman from Modena, Maserati moved to Modena to the current site in Viale Ciro Menotti.

Maserati has been part of the Fiat Group - now FCA - since 2005 and is a prestigious brand in the sector of sports and luxury saloon cars. It can be found in more than 70 countries, where it continues to bear witness to Italian sophistication, elegance and style around the world. Today the factory in Viale Ciro Menotti, Modena, and the Maserati Avv. Giovanni Agnelli Plant, inaugurated on 30 January 2013 in Grugliasco, are able to guarantee the highest technical and quality standards.

Maserati celebrated the start of 2013 with the presentation of the new Quattroporte at the Detroit Motor Show and with the Ghibli, the new top of the range saloon which marks Maserati's entrance into the E-sector of the market, at Shanghai Motor Show.

2014 is a very special year for Maserati as the company celebrates its Centennial.  At the Geneva Auto Show a special concept car named after the founder of the company, the Alfieri, was presented to mark the anniversary and to introduce the main design features of new models to come.

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