Carlos Zarlenga Takes Helm As Stellantis North American COO

Stellantis has officially announced a significant leadership change in its North American operations. Effective February 1, 2024, Carlos Zarlenga will step into the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) for North America, succeeding Mark Stewart. Carlos Zarlenga, a seasoned leader with over a decade of experience in the automotive industry across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Asia Pacific, and Latin America, brings a wealth of expertise to his new position. Having joined Stellantis in 2022 as the President of Stellantis Mexico, Zarlenga has demonstrated exceptional performance, delivering year-on-year improvements in sales, market share, and Adjusted Operating Income (AOI). … (read full article...)

 

[Mike201]

“The transition reflects Stellantis’ commitment to adapting to evolving market demands and embracing the shift toward electrification. Carlos Zarlenga’s strategic vision and leadership skills are expected to play a pivotal role in unleashing the potential of Stellantis’ iconic American brands portfolio in close collaboration with their respective CEOs.”

I CERTAINLY HOPE SO!!!!

 

[o4major97]

continue to de USA the company.

 

[T/A392]

My thoughts exactly.

 

[redriderbob]

continue to de USA the company.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[bill burke]

Generally called “scapegoating” by those in the know. Big questions, “is it the products or is it the people? “ ... Is it the central management leadership or the decisions on finance priorities they impose on their employees?” Let’s face it NA and its brands have been starved for new and timely products and hindered by the financial resources being misdirected to the electrification policy no one wants,
Poor Mark, he is taking the bullet for the Eurocentric biased hierarchy and the miscalculation, even outright disrespect for the NA market by those in charge. Shameful.

 

[patfromigh]

Quit belly aching about Latin America getting all the great products and their success hasn't been reaching us. This new COO just came from a thriving market where they continue to sell the smaller Jeeps and some Ram Trucks we have been forbidden to see. While the Renegade sales dried up here, we still need an affordable Jeep product to compete against the Ford Bronco Sport and Toyota Corolla Cross. Perhaps this new guy in town can tap into some people to make things happen here as it does in Latin America. In a market where a bunch of consumers want hybrids, Dodge manages to market one everyone turns their nose up at, the Hornet.

Whoever was running the show missed the fact that large pickup trucks are a fad exactly like large vans were back in the 1970s. That alone is enough to show someone the door. Perhaps it is scapegoating, but there is plenty of blame to go around.

 

[BWS1]

Quit belly aching about Latin America getting all the great products and their success hasn't been reaching us. This new COO just came from a thriving market where they continue to sell the smaller Jeeps and some Ram Trucks we have been forbidden to see. While the Renegade sales dried up here, we still need an affordable Jeep product to compete against the Ford Bronco Sport and Toyota Corolla Cross. Perhaps this new guy in town can tap into some people to make things happen here as it does in Latin America. In a market where a bunch of consumers want hybrids, Dodge manages to market one everyone turns their nose up at, the Hornet.

Whoever was running the show missed the fact that large pickup trucks are a fad exactly like large vans were back in the 1970s. That alone is enough to show someone the door. Perhaps it is scapegoating, but there is plenty of blame to go around.

Large pick ups a fad? Really? Yeah a fad for the past five decades I guess. Top three selling vehicles in US for the last however long that we quit counting. Yeah just a fad.

 

[redriderbob]

Generally called “scapegoating” by those in the know. Big questions, “is it the products or is it the people? “ ... Is it the central management leadership or the decisions on finance priorities they impose on their employees?” Let’s face it NA and its brands have been starved for new and timely products and hindered by the financial resources being misdirected to the electrification policy no one wants,
Poor Mark, he is taking the bullet for the Eurocentric biased hierarchy and the miscalculation, even outright disrespect for the NA market by those in charge. Shameful.

No, Mark went and got another job. Just like a lot of employees are doing.

 

[patfromigh]

Large pick ups a fad? Really? Yeah a fad for the past five decades I guess. Top three selling vehicles in US for the last however long that we quit counting. Yeah just a fad.

Five decades ago Dodge truck sales were so bad that when Lee stepped in they had a meeting to consider dropping pickup trucks. What manufacturers are offering for full size pickups right now are nothing like what was available five decades ago. It used to be a pickup truck was a decent entry level alternative to a car. This is no longer the case. Many trucks have sticker prices above that of traditional luxury cars. The top NOT selling vehicles based on days supply are pickup trucks and Jeeps. They are stacking up on dealers lots like Teslas in an arctic blast.

Large 3-row station wagons once commanded a large chunk of the market and then went away. They were displaced by large vans which then ruled the market before the bubble burst. Next up was the minivan, which grew in size close to a van from the 1960s. Large vans and minivans are still sold, but not in the volumes of their heyday. People still buy 3-row station wagons, but now such vehicles are called crossovers or SUVs.

Pickup trucks will still be around, but not like it was the last few decades when they grew in size and price. The Ford Maverick offers a glimpse of the future, lower cost, smaller in size and more efficient.

 

[BWS1]

Unneeded history lesson. And as you just pointed out, they have boomed since Lee was in charge, so that’s five decades. That is not a fad. Small trucks , mid size trucks have come and gone. What has hung around and generated enough profit to keep all the other goop afloat? So I’m with you, they have slowed down because they shot the moon during covid with pricing and now they are paying the price. But the market will adjust, and big pick ups will continue to flourish in one form or another in USA. So we won’t be able to call them a fad.

 

[patfromigh]

Dodge trucks did well until the fuel price jumped in 1979. Sales collapsed and Dodge / Ram pickup trucks weren't solid money makers until the Bob Lutz era. What he did was not interfere with the AMC methods adopted after the merger. Big pickup trucks have now reached an evolutionary dead end. It isn't just Stellantis, everybody's full size pickup trucks are taking a beating. Borrowed money is no longer easy and cheap, while the middle class is shrinking. The buyers aren't there right now and large pickup trucks will no longer be a positive fashion statement after any sort of market adjustment. It will be just like full size vans went through in the past.

 

[redriderbob]

Stewart is the new CEO of Goodyear, more info coming tomorrow

 

[AlexB]

Stewart is the new CEO of Goodyear, more info coming tomorrow

@TripleT
Stewart leaving speaks to he knows there other plans for the CEO & Stellantis.
Given the cash balance, & long-term goal (of EXOR's management) in combination with Carlos's upcoming retirement at the 2026 Shareholder meeting, I full expect another attempt at acquiring GM.
Remember Buffett who told John (Elkann) that Mary deserved her chance to run GM, and John scrapped a hostile attempt at GM.
Now Buffett sold his GM stake:Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway sold all of its GM stock | CNN Business

GM stock price is still weak---right at the IPO levels, and as Mary uses GM's cash to buy & retire company stock, but gets NO stock price bounce resulting in the market capitalization of GM going down with less stock outstanding.

Doesn't help that GM's"grand future bets" been going "burst" like GM's self-driving project ;Cruise:10 years in, GM CEO Mary Barra has built her legacy on change and crisis. 2024 will bring new tests

RenCen becomes Stellantis's World Headquarters with John Elkann as the CEO(succeeding Carlos, replacing Mary), hence Stellantis won the right to sell Auburn Hills CTC campus in the UAW contract.
Warren Tech Center becomes the North American Product Development campus.