Stellantis Could Split Up, Suggests Former CEO Carlos Tavares

Carlos Tavares resigned as CEO of Stellantis in December 2024. The company has since appointed Antonio Filosa as his successor and begun restructuring several of its brands as the auto giant looks toward a brighter future. According to Tavares, however, that future may be uncertain.

In a new book—first reported by Automotive News Europe—the former CEO suggests that Stellantis could be headed for a major breakup. Formed in 2021 through the merger of Italy’s Fiat Chrysler and France’s PSA Group, the company currently operates 14 brands worldwide.

“I am worried that the three-way balance between Italy, France, and the U.S. will break,” Tavares writes. “With me gone, I am not sure that the French interests that I always had at heart—whether you believe it or not—will be as well defended.”

Tavares speculates that a Chinese manufacturer could acquire Stellantis’s European operations, while the American arm may regain full control of brands like Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram. He argues that this split could strengthen each side’s competitive position—particularly in the US.

Still, Tavares’s predictions should be taken with a grain of salt.

The former CEO stepped down in 2024 following backlash over aggressive cost-cutting measures and an ambitious shift toward an all-electric lineup—a strategy that has since backfired. While Tavares insists he was not forced out, he admits in hindsight that he could have done “tons of things” differently.