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Carlos Tavares Warns Stellantis Could Split Apart In The Future

Carlos Tavares Warns Stellantis Could Split Apart In The Future​

Former CEO Says Tensions Between France, Italy, and the U.S. Could Push Break Up​


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Ten months after being ousted from Stellantis, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Carlos Tavares is sounding alarms about the company’s long-term future. In a new book published in France this week, Tavares warns that the multinational automaker he helped form could eventually be broken apart if growing political and cultural tensions within the organization continue to escalate.

 
If they are to split, CDJR should be the ones to reform under another banner from the EURO brands. Chrysler and Dodge are specific to the Americas, while RAM and Jeep have branched out to the global market. Americans will not give up their V8s for all this electrification nonsense, but they will compromise with mild/full hybrid models.

Give Dodge and Chrysler truly defined roles in the company. Dodge has has always been mainstream with sportiness in the same vein as Chevy and Ford, so it should remain while adding new models. Chrysler has been that slight step up like Buick, but it can be remodeled easily given that it only has one model (Voyager doesn't count as a second). If they had a real CEO for Chrysler, it would have been to common sense to start with a volume building new subcompact CUV (STLA-M) and twin two larger ones with the GC/GW models, while working on a flagship luxury sedan above the Charger, Imperial. Instead, we got someone who wasted money on concepts with nothing to show for it.
 
If they are to split, CDJR should be the ones to reform under another banner from the EURO brands. Chrysler and Dodge are specific to the Americas, while RAM and Jeep have branched out to the global market. Americans will not give up their V8s for all this electrification nonsense, but they will compromise with mild/full hybrid models.

Give Dodge and Chrysler truly defined roles in the company. Dodge has has always been mainstream with sportiness in the same vein as Chevy and Ford, so it should remain while adding new models. Chrysler has been that slight step up like Buick, but it can be remodeled easily given that it only has one model (Voyager doesn't count as a second). If they had a real CEO for Chrysler, it would have been to common sense to start with a volume building new subcompact CUV (STLA-M) and twin two larger ones with the GC/GW models, while working on a flagship luxury sedan above the Charger, Imperial. Instead, we got someone who wasted money on concepts with nothing to show for it.
The total performance market in America is less than 400K. 400K!!! not the V8 performance market... The Entire including all powertrain options of which V8 is smaller subsection. To Keep that in Context the "electrification nonsense" Model Y Tesla sold 480K alone sold in North America.

So maybe we stop using that claim as crutch for delay launches, poor manufacturing, bad quality, poor integration, out of date powertrain, bad product mix, and worst of all Horrible Marketing.

Hanging on hat on rebuilding brands and markets on 400K total market is BAD IDEA. Hybrid are no longer a "compromise", it is a market requirement.

How about leading for once instead of trailing and using the past as boat anchor.

For sure some Halo models to drive traffic, but then you need something to actual sell volume stuff but they don't produce operational cashflow. Across all Brands. Jeep need domestic Renegade and Compass cannot be delayed anymore. Charger needs a 4 cylinder hybrid, yesterday. A NA model that can support a SRT4 version that drives traffic for SRT styled Compact SUV. A hornet that is NA made without the ugly nose. The Pacifica HAS TO BE REDONE STLA and REV is a must MUST. A fastback Compass Chrysler NOW(even though I personally hate these, people love them). Ram needs a version of Rampage more than a version of the Dakota.... but this should not be a either or... it needs a both. AND a STLA SMART EV Pickup and small Cargo van in the $20K range.
(we can stick our heads in the sand a miss the next EV grab of market share or again LEAD.) EV adoption is at the bottom of the market not the top. I have seen it with my own eyes elsewhere.

In general just product and utilization, unmade cars don't sell.
 
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The connection with the Italian brands has greatly benefited Jeep and Ram in Latin America. Ironically the FCA side of the house also benefits the PSA brands in Mexico and South America. The fact that the world's smartest executive doesn't bring up South America is amazing because after the US, the Latin American operation is the next biggest money maker for the company.

So everybody hates the Chinese, but Leap Motor is an in-house brand at Stellantis. I would like to see some sort of engineering exchange program between Auburn Hills and wherever Leap is headquartered. The Jeep and Chrysler plugin models need some serious software upgrades and Leap seems to know how to get the job done.
 
Wow! Like the guy who ran the Titanic into the iceberg is now saying how to stop it from sinking. Why can’t this guy just go away.
It appears the current MGT are trying to to upright the ship and seem to be coming up with a good plan. The only issue is time. Seeing Carlos put them so far behind, we are all being impatient on getting it fixed sooner rather than later.
 
How about Jeep. Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Fiat, Alfa, and Maserati ... split from the other brands Focus on Italy, NA, and SA ..... Maybe call it FCA and have it run by Car people instead penny pinching accountants.
I like the idea.
 
Ruin a company / write a book. The arrogance never ends with this guy.
Guy needs a good a— kicking. Back in the day I’d take his lunch money from him as a mercy tribute. Jerk.
 
It's a blessing in disguise that Stellantis is behind on electrification. They haven't committed themselves to a bunch of battery electric vehicles. I can't imagine the mess Ram would be in if the battery electric REV was delivered on time and the lots were full of them right now.
 
It's a blessing in disguise that Stellantis is behind on electrification. They haven't committed themselves to a bunch of battery electric vehicles. I can't imagine the mess Ram would be in if the battery electric REV was delivered on time and the lots were full of them right now.
Blessing?
779,287 vehicles were sold by Stellantis North America in 2024, excluding Ram 1500 and Jeep Wrangler sales.

Tesla sold approximately 800,000–805,000 vehicles in North America in 2024. 5% of the total market out of nowhere

Total EV sale 1,800,000 vs 1,300,000 total sales STLA sales. STLA doesn't want any of the market oh no it killing selling dinosaurs. Tesla that basically didn't exist 10 years ago is a bigger Car and CUV company the STLA now. But lets keep pretending. It not that there is isn't a EV market it that there isn't a crappy EV market. Camry hybrid and Tesla Unibody EV ourself everything Unibody STLA makes... And still we get these hybrid and ev cuts here. WTHU people. Throwing Dinosaur engines is not going to fix this. We need some new competitive stuff and it better not have a torque converter... or we lose. All never Electric people don't add up to enough sales to fiancé a company

If RAM and Jeep had a REV which don't exist in USA .... at least they would be leading. Toyota and Honda are a few coupling away.
 
Blessing?
779,287 vehicles were sold by Stellantis North America in 2024, excluding Ram 1500 and Jeep Wrangler sales.

Tesla sold approximately 800,000–805,000 vehicles in North America in 2024. 5% of the total market out of nowhere

Total EV sale 1,800,000 vs 1,300,000 total sales STLA sales. STLA doesn't want any of the market oh no it killing selling dinosaurs. Tesla that basically didn't exist 10 years ago is a bigger Car and CUV company the STLA now. But lets keep pretending. It not that there is isn't a EV market it that there isn't a crappy EV market. Camry hybrid and Tesla Unibody EV ourself everything Unibody STLA makes... And still we get these hybrid and ev cuts here. WTHU people. Throwing Dinosaur engines is not going to fix this. We need some new competitive stuff and it better not have a torque converter... or we lose. All never Electric people don't add up to enough sales to fiancé a company

If RAM and Jeep had a REV which don't exist in USA .... at least they would be leading. Toyota and Honda are a few coupling away.
I agree. As much as I hate EV’s along with most here, Stellantis still needs to off them as an option. Yes they also need NEW product, there are a lot of tree higher who want EV’s. I understand Stellantis is offering more Hybrids, giving options is a must. Sales need to come from both sides.
I am 60, so my time and number of future vehicles is limited, but the young folks may not want what this old guy does, so some type of compromise is needed to stay competitive.
 
I agree. As much as I hate EV’s along with most here, Stellantis still needs to off them as an option. Yes they also need NEW product, there are a lot of tree higher who want EV’s. I understand Stellantis is offering more Hybrids, giving options is a must. Sales need to come from both sides.
I am 60, so my time and number of future vehicles is limited, but the young folks may not want what this old guy does, so some type of compromise is needed to stay competitive.
I am a old guy just 3 years away from you, and I am not sure I want another vehicle that isn't PHEV as a daily driver. The ability of nearly never buy gas except when on a trip is unbelievable convenience
 
Maybe electric car buyers dont want to buy from legacy brands? And legacy brand fans dont want legacy brands selling EVs? They may need a "Saturn" type brand and make that all EV, and then sell them through established CDJR dealerships. I know I know, too many brands - but this might be a case for a new one or buy an established/growing but struggling one, like Lucid.

They just axed the F150 Lightning BTW

Regarding splitting up, I'd pack all the Euro side brands together and sell them. No need to keep Alfa and Maserati afloat with NA profits. MAYBE ask Ferrari if they want Alfa as a place to dump old platforms and engines on niche products. Ask Geely if they want Maserati to slot in above Volvo.
 
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Blessing?
Yes, blessing. Dodge and Jeep are failing miserably with both battery electric and PHEV. They simply don't need to add more bad products to fill up the back lots of dealers.
It not that there is isn't a EV market it's that there isn't a crappy EV market.
You said it yourself. What makes you think that if a Ram 1500 pure battery electric introduced over this past summer wouldn't be plagued with the same ills the Wagoneer S and Charger Daytona have would be any different? The range extended Ram REV and Wagoneer REEV (whatever they call it) had better be well sorted out by introduction time.

My post was addressing the rush to the market of the Charger Daytona and Wagoneer S EV models. I agree with you it doesn't make sense to bring out large expensive EVs because better sales numbers will come from smaller less expensive ones. When I saw the Leap B05 concept my first thought was, that should be the next Dodge Dart. It's a rear drive BEV with a 50-50 weight distribution and even looks like it could be a Dodge.

I'm not against battery electric drive, I considered buying one at one point. I drive a hybrid and regularly drove EVs and PHEVs before I retired. I'm just as disappointed as you are with how far the CDJR brands have fallen behind in their home market in regards to electrification. That I know off, Brazil and Mexico don't have zero emissions mandates. I know that Mexico City has a few zero emissions corridors, but that's about it. Nevertheless Jeep and Ram offer hybrid options in both those countries. The 6at 48V hybrid would be class leading for a mild hybrid if sold here. It's based on the automatic transmission that was optional on the older Fiat 500 sold in our market. The hybrid version replaces the torque converter with a clutch-pack and e-motor assembly.

I'm predicting EV sales will fall due to the end of the government incentives. The drop will bottom out sometime next summer, depending on the economy. My speculation is based on the introduction of the reworked Chevy Bolt, a next generation Nissan Leaf, plus second generation Toyota and Honda battery electrics, all coming on line over the Winter and Spring months. The high speed charging infrastructure is now rapidly growing freed from heavy handed government controls. When people see the charging stations along with affordable EVs sales will pick up again. It would be nice if Stellantis had something to offer at that point.
 
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I wouldn't say Jeep is failing with PHEVs Wrangle and JGC are both the best selling PHEV. The Samsung Battery has been a problem across all OEMs, and they struggle with integration.

I wouldn't call those models rushed they were both 18months behind. I would say miss focused but remember they had real Biden era regulatory hurdles to resolve and typically a President does win when he is the incumbent. I would say poorly prioritized. Going Hybrid first with a known power train like the one in the Jeep would have taken a lot of pressure off and allowed them to launch in a calmer pace.

EV sales won't fall the bottom of the market is a ton of Volume, when you can get a new car, with around 180 mile range for less than a 4 year old used ICE car them market will radically expand. EV are cheaper to build and easier to develop if you have good programmers.
 
EV sales won't fall the bottom of the market is a ton of Volume, when you can get a new car, with around 180 mile range for less than a 4 year old used ICE car them market will radically expand. EV are cheaper to build and easier to develop if you have good programmers.
EV sales will decline at least equal to the sharp increase in sales, when there was a big push to take advantage of the government incentives before they expired. Toyota and Nissan are very low on EV inventory due to the change over to the next generation models. I expect October and November sales reports to show a shocking decline for those two factors. I don't know when the new Chevy Bolt goes on sale and the base Leaf will be the last trim level to be introduced. Those two models start around $30K. Nissan is discontinuing the Ariya because it depended on the government rebates to sell. The next Leaf doesn't and also Nissan pushed up the introduction date for the Rogue e-Power in the US.

"... if you have good programmers." That's why I suggested that Leap and Auburn Hills have an exchange program. Since Brampton is going to be empty and Canada is sticking to its zero emissions mandates, I think Stellantis could move some Leap production into that facility. The tariff hit won't be too bad if a number of parts come from the US.

I forgot to mention Walmart is getting involved in the charging business with their own network. It works through the Walmart app. That combined with entry level EVs will change the playing field.
 
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