The resignation of Carlos Tavares as CEO of Stellantis seems to have opened the door for the automotive group to reshape the strategy it has been following.
Led by president John Elkann, Stellantis is acting quickly to put an end to the legacy of its former CEO and to repair relationships with dealers, industry partners, governments, and workers.
With the automotive group searching for a new CEO, the first signs of a strategic shift are emerging from Europe, where Stellantis has just confirmed its return to the membership of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), from which it withdrew in 2022.
At that time, the press made it clear that Stellantis’s departure from ACEA was primarily driven by disagreements between Carlos Tavares and his counterparts from other member manufacturers, especially those of German origin.
Furthermore, the divergences with the Italian government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni seem to have gained new momentum, as the government in Rome is now willing to work with Stellantis on its future strategy, provided the company maintains jobs and factories in the country.
“If the approach is constructive, if there is a willingness to keep factories and jobs, we are ready to do our part,” the Italian Prime Minister recently stated.
After the surprising resignation of Carlos Tavares as CEO, the Rome government is now looking to repair relations with Stellantis, which has 14 brands, including Jeep, Ram, Fiat, and Peugeot.
The task of reformulating the strategy is in the hands of an interim executive committee, chaired by John Elkann, a descendant of the Agnelli family, which founded Fiat over a century ago. Elkann, who also chairs Ferrari and manages the family holding Exor, will also be responsible for leading the selection of the new CEO, which is expected to be announced in the first half of 2025.
It should be noted that Carlos Tavares revealed in an interview with the Portuguese newspaper “Expresso” last weekend that his resignation from Stellantis was due to disagreements with the Board of Directors regarding the strategy.
