Stellantis, the automotive conglomerate behind brands like Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, RAM, Peugeot, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat, has appointed Antonio Filosa as its new CEO, effective June 23, 2025. This decision ends months of uncertainty following the abrupt departure of former CEO Carlos Tavares, whose tenure came to an end in December 2024 amid slow sales and declining profits. Filosa’s appointment comes at a turbulent time where the fourth-largest automaker in the world reported a 14% drop in its first-quarter revenue, and shares of the company have further taken a hit amid President Donald Trump’s U.S. import tariffs, that affects 40% of all its sales in the United States, subsequently leading the company to suspend its full-year guidance.
Filosa, a 51-year-old executive who originally hails from Italy, brings over 25 years of experience. Starting at Fiat back in 1999, he has risen through the ranks within the company. His tenure includes pivotal roles such as Chief Executive Officer for South America and the Americas, as well as the CEO of the Jeep brand. Most notably, Jeep’s presence expanded significantly in Brazil under his leadership, making it the largest market for the American automaker outside the United States.
In more recent times, Filosa has been quietly reforming and revitalising Stellantis’ struggling U.S. operations. Since being appointed as the Chief Operating Officer of the Americas last October, he has cut down on excess inventories, reorganized top leadership, and engaged with dealers and unions. Executive Chairman John Elkann, who has led an interim committee since Traves’ exit, emphasized Filosa’s deep understanding of the company, stating that his leadership qualities are well-suited to guide Stellantis through this transitional phase.
“I am grateful for the confidence placed in me. We have the world’s most iconic automotive brands and a century-long legacy of innovation. I’m committed to building on that foundation.” – Antonio Filosa
The stakes are also now higher than ever. President Trump’s introduction of tariffs in the U.S. Trade policy brings fresh volatility into the industry, along with margin pressures in Europe as Chinese automakers continue to gain ground. Filosa’s immediate priorities will be to further stabilize the North American business by moving some production back to the United States, introducing competitive pricing strategies, and a fresh vehicle lineup across the brand’s core markets. While GM and Ford have made significant investments in electric vehicles, a pivot towards Stellantis serving up a growing demand for hybrid models to cater to consumers not yet ready for electrification, across its 14 brands, would be ideal.
An Extraordinary Shareholder Meeting will be convened in the coming days to formalize Filosa’s election to the board, and the industry will be keen to see how Filosa steers the company back to profitability, in the evolving automotive landscape.
Source: Stellantis
