Stellantis’ New CEO Gets Warm Welcome From U.S. Dealers

Stellantis dealers in the U.S. are cautiously optimistic that Stellantis’ newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Antonio Filosa, is the right person to get things back on track after months of slumping sales and strained relationships.

The 51-year-old Italian executive officially was announced as the company’s new CEO this week, but he’s no stranger to the North American market. Filosa has been serving as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Americas since December, stepping in after Carlos Tavares exited the role unexpectedly.

Filosa has already spent time with dealers on the ground—listening to their concerns and, most importantly, showing that he understands the challenges they face.

“He knows what he’s doing. He has a manufacturing and quality background, which is important to us,” said Kevin Farrish, former Chairman of the Stellantis National Dealer Council. Farrish led a letter in September that criticized the direction under Tavares, citing dealer frustrations with pricing strategies that contributed to sharp sales declines.

Under Tavares, Stellantis focused on aggressive cost-cutting—moves that upset car dealers, suppliers, and even the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. The fallout included shareholder lawsuits and labor complaints.

Now, with Filosa at the top, there’s a push to repair the damage. North American sales dropped 25% year-over-year in Q1, and global revenues were down 14%, according to Reuters. A turnaround is needed—and fast.

Filosa’s approach appears more grounded. He’s been meeting with dealers across the country and is scheduled to speak with the Stellantis National Dealer Council this week.

Mark Trudell, General Manager at Extreme Dodge Chrysler Jeep® in Jackson, Michigan, called Filosa’s appointment “the right decision.”

“Everything I hear from the inside is that he knows the North America market better than his predecessor,” Trudell said. He also emphasized the need to focus on electric vehicles and how to handle the newly imposed tariffs that are adding pressure across the industry.

Those tariffs—signed into effect by President Trump in April—have already caused Stellantis to suspend its annual financial guidance due to the uncertainty. Nearly half of Stellantis’ U.S. vehicle sales are imported, mostly from Mexico and Canada.

Despite the challenges, many dealers say Filosa is starting off on the right foot.

“He has had a lot of experience, listens to U.S. dealer feedback, and I’m optimistic we will start taking U.S. market share back,” said Thad Szott of Szott Auto Group in White Lake, Michigan. He recalled spending an hour speaking one-on-one with Filosa more than a year ago.

Stellantis has also tapped experienced brand leaders like Tim Kuniskis—returning to his role as Ram CEO—to help steady the ship and refocus dealer relations.

As Filosa settles into his new role, dealers are watching closely. Many believe that with the right leadership, the brand can start climbing out of its current slump and rebuild trust with its U.S. network.

Source: Reuters