AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear

Radical Targets and Broken Trust: The Fall of Carlos Tavares at Stellantis

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
December 6, 2024
in Latest News
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Radical Targets and Broken Trust: The Fall of Carlos Tavares at Stellantis

FILE PHOTO: Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares holds a news conference after meeting with unions, in Turin, Italy, March 31, 2022. REUTERS/Massimo Pinca/File Photo

Unrealistic Ambitions Lead to Ouster of Stellantis CEO

In a dramatic turn of events, Carlos Tavares, the outspoken and once-celebrated CEO of Stellantis, was ousted just a month after receiving unanimous backing from the company’s board. Tavares’ aggressive cost-cutting measures, lofty sales targets, and abrasive leadership style ultimately fractured his relationship with board members, suppliers, and unions, according to insider sources.

The decision to remove Tavares has left Stellantis—home to 14 brands including Jeep, Ram, Fiat, and Peugeot—without a successor amid growing challenges in the global automotive market.


“Something Broke in November”

The cracks in Tavares’ leadership surfaced in November, insiders say, after months of mounting tension. Once lauded for driving profitability, Tavares’ “radical” targets were increasingly seen as unrealistic and damaging.

Sources revealed his strained relationships with the board, stemming from his refusal to engage in industry lobbying over European Union emissions regulations and his insistence that Stellantis could hit 21% electric vehicle (EV) sales by 2025, up from 12% today, without incurring fines.

This position left board members and staff questioning his strategy. “Company staffers were totally lost over the ‘irrationality’ of achieving such a large EV share increase without fines,” one insider said. His hardline approach to drastically cutting costs in Europe, where operations were already “cut to the bone,” further alienated the board.


A Leadership Style That Alienated Many

Tavares was no stranger to controversy. Known for his top-down leadership style, he left little room for dissent and clashed with key players across Stellantis’ ecosystem, including:

  • Suppliers: His drive to replace long-standing suppliers with cheaper alternatives caused supply chain disruptions and jeopardized production.
  • Dealers: Contentious pricing strategies led to bloated inventories in the U.S. and a reputation for overpricing in both Europe and the U.S.
  • Unions: His cost-cutting measures fueled tensions with labor unions, particularly in the U.S. and Europe.
  • Governments: His relationships with the governments of Italy and France became strained over divergent policy priorities.

“You cannot make enemies with everybody,” one source remarked, describing how Tavares’ approach began to unravel the delicate balance required to run a sprawling global automaker.


Breaking Point: Board Confrontation

Tavares’ dismissal followed a series of heated board meetings in November. When members pressed him on his strategies, particularly regarding EV targets and cost management, Tavares reportedly responded, “You do not interfere with my job—that is not your business.”

The response further irritated board members representing major shareholders, including Exor, the Peugeot family, and the French government. His refusal to adjust controversial policies ultimately rendered his position “totally untenable.”


Profit Warnings and Market Realities

Adding to the tensions, Stellantis issued a major profit warning in September, undermining Tavares’ reputation as a master of margins. The automaker’s share price has since plummeted by 43% in 2024, driven by falling market share in the U.S. and Europe, rising competition from Chinese EV makers, and steep pricing policies that alienated customers.

Dealers and industry experts say Stellantis has “priced itself out of the market,” leaving the company vulnerable to further losses in an already competitive automotive landscape.


A Daunting To-Do List for Stellantis

Stellantis now faces the challenge of stabilizing operations without a clear successor for Tavares. Among the top priorities for the next CEO:

  1. Revitalize U.S. Operations: Address bloated inventories and declining market share for Jeep and Ram.
  2. Boost EV Transition: Meet stringent EU emissions standards and ramp up EV sales without sacrificing profitability.
  3. Rebuild Relationships: Repair strained ties with suppliers, unions, and governments critical to the automaker’s success.
  4. Counter Chinese Competition: Fend off the growing threat of Chinese EV manufacturers in Europe and North America.

The Legacy of Carlos Tavares

Carlos Tavares leaves behind a mixed legacy. As the architect of the 2021 merger between Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot, he transformed Stellantis into one of the world’s largest automakers and delivered impressive profit margins in its early years. However, his unrelenting focus on cost-cutting and contentious relationships ultimately alienated those around him, leading to his dramatic fall.

Now, as Stellantis searches for new leadership, the automaker must navigate a rapidly changing industry without the stability it once enjoyed under Tavares.

Share212Tweet133Send

Related Posts

Um milhão de Cupra produzidos
Latest News

“One million Cupra produced.”

One of the youngest brands in the market, created in 2018, and the first completely new one launched by the...

by Redação
October 17, 2025
Mate Rimac negoceia controlo total da Bugatti
Latest News

Mate Rimac negotiates total control of Bugatti.

Currently in the orbit of Bugatti Rimac, a joint venture created in 2021, owned 55% by the Rimac Group (controlled...

by Redação
October 16, 2025
Jeep e Dongfeng juntas no desenvolvimento de novo SUV
Latest News

“Jeep and Dongfeng together in the development of a new SUV.”

According to the website Cars News China, the groups Stellantis and Dongfeng are working together on the design and development...

by Redação
October 16, 2025
Dongfeng Box “tropeça” nos testes do Euro NCAP
Latest News

“Dongfeng Box stumbles in Euro NCAP tests.”

In recent years (happily, it should be emphasized!), the norm has been that most new cars subjectedto Euro NCAP safety...

by Redação
October 15, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent News

Michael McDowell and Chevy Dominates Talladega Qualifying as Ford’s Playoff Hopes Crumble in Shocking Upset!

Michael McDowell and Chevy Dominates Talladega Qualifying as Ford’s Playoff Hopes Crumble in Shocking Upset!

October 19, 2025
Lando Norris Vows to Conquer F1 US GP: “Key Tip for Victory? Avoid Collision!”

Lando Norris Vows to Conquer F1 US GP: “Key Tip for Victory? Avoid Collision!”

October 19, 2025
Verstappen Dominates USGP Qualifying with Stunning Pole as Piastri Stumbles to Sixth Place

Verstappen Dominates USGP Qualifying with Stunning Pole as Piastri Stumbles to Sixth Place

October 19, 2025
Leclerc Declares War: Aggressive Strategy for Victory After Controversial Qualifying Drama!

Leclerc Declares War: Aggressive Strategy for Victory After Controversial Qualifying Drama!

October 19, 2025

Newsletter

  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TECHNICAL INFORMATION
  • EDITORIAL STATUS
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.