Stellantis CEO: Filosa’s Profit Focus
antonio Filosa takes the wheel at Stellantis,promptly tasked with boosting profits and steering the company thru a storm of challenges,including potential U.S. tariffs and the electric vehicle transition. The new CEO steps in as the company’s operating profit margin has plummeted from 12.8% too 5.5% in just a year. Filosa must swiftly address these financial headwinds and reassess Stellantis’s extensive brand portfolio, deciding the fate of marques such as Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and DS.News Directory 3 reports that the pressure is on. With first-quarter sales down, the stakes are high. Beyond financial performance,Filosa will need to smooth relations with dealers and the UAW.Discover what’s next for Stellantis under its new leadership.
Stellantis CEO Filosa Faces Profitability, Tariff Challenges
Updated May 30, 2025
Antonio Filosa steps into the role of Stellantis CEO facing immediate pressure to restore profitability and navigate a complex landscape of potential U.S. tariffs and the ongoing electric vehicle transition. The company’s operating profit margin fell to 5.5% in 2024, a steep drop from 12.8% the previous year.Stellantis also reported a negative industrial cash flow of €6 billion last year, a stark contrast to the €12.9 billion positive flow in 2023.
Filosa succeeds Carlos Tavares, who orchestrated the merger between fiat Chrysler and Groupe PSA in 2021, creating Stellantis and its portfolio of 14 brands.Tavares’s unexpected departure in December,a year before his contract ended,has added to the challenges facing the new CEO.
One critical task for Filosa will be evaluating the company’s extensive brand lineup, which includes Opel, Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot, Fiat, Lancia, DS, Alfa Romeo, Abarth, Dodge, Ram, Jeep, Chrysler, and Maserati. Tavares had previously given the brands until 2031 to justify their existence, but pressure is mounting for them to demonstrate their value sooner.
Jamie Butters, an Automotive news columnist, noted that Tavares’s final year was marked by unpopular decisions, including cost-cutting measures imposed on suppliers and missteps in the U.S. market. These issues led to strained relationships with dealers and the UAW.
Bernstein research highlighted Filosa’s deep understanding of the U.S.market as a key asset, particularly given criticisms that Tavares had overlooked dealer concerns. The firm also pointed to Ferrari’s triumphant appointment of Benedetto Vigna from STMicro’s sensors division as inspiration for considering unconventional leadership choices.
Analysts suggest that several Stellantis brands, particularly Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and DS, require fresh products. The positioning of some brands, such as Opel and Peugeot, and Fiat and Citroen, also needs clarification. The future of Maserati, which struggles to define its place in the premium and luxury segments, is also uncertain.
With first-quarter sales down 14% to €35.8 billion, Stellantis has refrained from making profit predictions for the year. The company reports profits semi-annually.
What’s next
Filosa faces immediate strategic decisions regarding cost-cutting, production alignment, and electrification strategies.Some analysts suggest that selling off certain brands to Chinese companies eager to expand in Europe could be a viable option, especially given the increasing EU tariffs on EVs.