Former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has doubled down on his decision to resign from the company, stressing that his vision for the automaker clashed with that of the Stellantis board. In an interview with Portuguese news outlet Expresso, Tavares highlighted the importance of a unified direction for the company, which he believes was hindered by a lack of alignment among its board members. “A company that has 250,000 employees and 15 brands cannot be managed with a lack of alignment,” Tavares said, describing his resignation as an “amicable” decision made jointly with Stellantis Chairman John Elkann.
Tavares, who led the company through challenging times, emphasized his belief that China was far ahead in electric vehicle (EV) development, which he said placed European automakers in a precarious position. He described the current state of the industry as a “Darwinian challenge” for European carmakers, where only the most resilient will survive. “China is many years ahead,” he remarked, pointing to European political decisions as contributing to a “dead end.”
Meanwhile, following Tavares’ resignation on December 1, Stellantis Chairman Elkann is engaging with U.S. dealers over how to move forward. The Stellantis National Dealer Council has criticized Tavares for prioritizing short-term profits at the expense of long-term strategy, especially for the Fiat-Chrysler division. Sales for major brands like Dodge, Jeep, and Ram have dropped in 2024, and dealers have expressed concerns over the pricing of new models. Additionally, the discontinuation of the popular Hemi V-8 engine remains a contentious issue.
As Stellantis moves forward, the appointment of a new CEO will be made in the first half of 2025, with former Dodge and Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis rehired to lead the Ram brand.