Stellantis is facing significant challenges, with sales in the United States dropping precipitously. Dealers have publicly criticized Carlos Tavares, accusing him of hastening the decline of American brands. In a letter to the CEO, the US Stellantis National Dealer Council expressed grave concerns, labeling the situation a 'disaster.' Recent reports indicate that Tavares, the sole CEO of Stellantis since its formation through the 2021 merger of PSA Group and Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles, will step down in early 2026 when his five-year contract ends. Despite earlier speculation that he might stay longer, a Stellantis press release confirms his departure at the conclusion of his term.
The search for Tavares' successor has commenced, led by a Special Committee of the Board chaired by John Elkann, also the chairman of Ferrari. Stellantis aims to appoint a new CEO by the end of next year. Meanwhile, Elkann emphasizes the Board's continued support for Tavares and the recent strategic changes. These changes include the appointment of Santo Ficili as CEO of both Maserati and Alfa Romeo, replacing Davide Grasso and Jean-Philippe Imparato, respectively. Grasso will remain with Stellantis in a different role, while Imparato becomes COO in the Enlarged Europe region and CEO of Pro One, Stellantis' commercial division.
Antonio Filosa, continuing as Jeep CEO, will also assume the role of North America COO, replacing Carlos Zarlenga, who will move to a different position within the company. Doug Ostermann takes over as Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Natalie Knight, who is leaving. Tavares recently attributed Maserati's poor sales to ineffective marketing and highlighted issues at the Sterling Heights factory in Michigan, where numerous Ram trucks require repairs post-assembly. Stellantis has acknowledged an excess of unsold vehicles and is working to reduce inventory levels.
Despite these challenges, none of the 14 brands under the Stellantis umbrella are currently at risk of being discontinued. The original plan, announced in 2021, to maintain all brands for at least 10 years remains in effect, ensuring Stellantis' commitment to troubled automakers like Lancia and DS Automobiles.
