Former Stellantis CEO Acknowledges That "Things Might Have Been Handled Differently"

      Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares participated in a tour of the production line for the new Peugeot e-3008 and e-5008 electric vehicles at the Stellantis factory in Sochaux, eastern France, on October 3, 2024. FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP via Getty Images

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      In the United States, former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares left a legacy marked by conflict and strained relationships. It is evident why Tavares encountered issues with dealers and company insiders; his push against traditional powertrains resulted in alienated sales teams and fans, although it didn’t necessarily have to unfold this way, he expressed in a Bloomberg interview.

      Tavares acknowledged that his main mistake was not convincing U.S. dealerships to support his vision. Without the backing of frontline employees, garnering support for his new strategy from other stakeholders became an overwhelming challenge.

      “The dealers in the U.S. were not inclined to back what we were trying to achieve, which is ultimately my responsibility,” he shared with the outlet. “Many aspects could have been approached differently,” he added.

      The depth of the divide between Tavares and the company’s U.S. operations became apparent right after his exit. Almost immediately, Dodge declared it would prolong the production of the V8 Durango—fueled by the Hemi engine that Tavares aimed to phase out—indefinitely.

      Since then, there have been credible speculations about a potential resurgence of V8 engines across its U.S. lineup; however, no formal announcements have been made, and there are no indications that Ram or Dodge have any Hemi-powered prototypes in development. If this revival is to materialize, investments will need to occur in areas where Stellantis can most easily finance them. In other words, focus on the trucks.

      While enthusiasts might cling to the Hemi as a sign of Stellantis's endurance, insiders face more pressing challenges. The lack of V8 trucks is indeed noticeable, but Ram's foremost issue was not a powertrain error; rather, it was the repeatedly postponed launch of its revamped pickup lineup.

      Even as production increased in 2024, Ram faced difficulties in delivering functional trucks, compelling dealerships to handle quality problems that should have been addressed prior to delivery. This resulting frustration further distanced employees, dealers, and customers.

      Tavares began his career at Renault as a test engineer; now the former CEO spends his retirement racing cars and working on his farm, he mentioned to AN.

      Tavares described Filosa as a “logical, credible choice” to take over in this challenging landscape, which he anticipates will see more consolidation among automakers, particularly in Europe, amid the “chaos” brought on by the trade war.

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