
Peugeot, Ram parent posts A$4.1 billion loss, forecasts more tariff trouble
The automaker released unaudited financial and vehicle shipment numbers this week ahead of a call with investors at the end of the month.
The numbers include €3.3 billion ($5.9 billion) in charges relating to restructuring and cancelled model programs, including its recent axing of hydrogen fuel-cell development, investments in hybrid for Europe, and returning the Hemi V8 to the Ram pickup range.
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In a letter to employees seen by Reuters, CEO Antonio Filosa said 2025 would be 'a year of gradual and sustainable improvement'. He noted the first half of the year was 'tough', and warned there would be 'increasing external headwinds'.
According to the company, tariff uncertainty caused by President Trump cost the company around €300 million (A$530 million) in the first half.
Doug Ostermann, the automaker's chief financial officer, told analysts and Reuters tariffs are expected to cost the company between €1 and €1.5 billion (A$1.8 to A$2.7 billion) this year.
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These figures show new CEO Antonio Filosa has a lot of work to do to right the French-Italian-American automaker. That said, front-loading as much of the bad news and numbers into this half will give the CEO more room to make changes and to paint any upswing in a more positive light.
Vehicle shipments — which are cars invoiced to dealers, importers and buyers — dropped 90,000 or 6.0 per cent compared to the same time last year.
The biggest fall occurred in North America where shipments dropped 109,000 units or 25 per cent to 322,000 vehicles. Stellantis said this was partially due to reduced manufacturing and imports due to tariff concerns, as well as lower fleet sales. It was keen to point out Jeep and Ram sales were up 13 per cent collectively.
In Europe shipments fell 50,000 vehicles or 6.0 per cent to 722,000, with the automaker citing 'product transition' as the reason. It notes that production is still ramping up of the Citroen C3, C3 Aircross, Fiat Grande Panda, and Opel Frontera, which are all based on the Smart Car platform.
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Also, the Fiat 500 (above) has lost its Italian sales crown as production of the petrol-powered second-generation model has stopped due to the EU's cybersecurity legislation. Fiat has reworked the third-generation 500, launched as an EV-only model, to accept a mild hybrid drivetrain, but volume production won't begin until next year.
Strong growth elsewhere helped to mitigate the losses in Europe and North America. South America, where Stellantis is a market leader, was up 20 per cent to 260,000 cars thanks to demand in Brazil and Argentina. The Middle East and Africa was up 30 per cent to 125,000 units on the back of good numbers in Turkey.
Maserati, though, was down 7000 units or 22 per cent to just 2500 vehicle shipments. This will no doubt fuel more rumours about its potential sale.
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The United States has struck a framework trade deal with the European Union, imposing a 15 per cent import tariff on most EU goods, but averting a spiralling battle between two allies which account for almost a third of global trade. The announcement came after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen travelled for talks with US President Donald Trump at his golf course in western Scotland to push a hard-fought deal over the line. "I think this is the biggest deal ever made," Trump told reporters after an hour-long meeting with von der Leyen, who said the 15 per cent tariff applied "across the board". "We have a trade deal between the two largest economies in the world, and it's a big deal. It's a huge deal. It will bring stability. It will bring predictability," she said. The deal, which also includes $US600 billion ($A901 bn) of EU investments in the United States and $US750 bn ($A1.1 trillion) of EU purchases of US energy over Trump's second term, will indeed bring clarity for EU companies. Even so, the baseline tariff will be seen by many in Europe as a poor outcome compared with the initial European ambition of a zero-for-zero tariff deal, although it is better than the threatened 30 per cent rate. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the deal, saying in a statement that a trade conflict had been averted that would have hit Germany's export-driven economy and its large auto sector hard. But Bernd Lange, the German Social Democrat who chairs the trade committee of the European Parliament, said he was "quite critical" because the tariffs were imbalanced and the pledged investment would likely come at the expense of EU industry. The euro rose around 0.2 per cent against the dollar, sterling and yen within an hour of the deal being announced. The deal mirrors key parts of the framework agreement the United States clinched with Japan last week. "We are agreeing that the tariff ... for automobiles and everything else will be a straight-across tariff of 15 per cent," Trump said. That rate will not, however, apply to steel and aluminium, for which a 50 per cent tariff will remain in place, although von der Leyen said it would be cut and replaced with a quota system. Von der Leyen said the rate also applied to semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, and there would be no tariffs from either side on aircraft and aircraft parts, certain chemicals, certain generic drugs, semiconductor equipment, some agricultural products, natural resources and critical raw materials. "We will keep working to add more products to this list," she said, adding that the situation on spirits was still to be established. Trump, who is seeking to reorder the global economy and reduce decades-old US trade deficits, has so far reeled in agreements with Britain, Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam, although his administration has failed to deliver on a promise of "90 deals in 90 days." Arriving in Scotland, Trump said the EU wanted "to make a deal very badly" and said, as he met von der Leyen, that Europe had been "very unfair to the United States". His main bugbear is the US merchandise trade deficit with the EU, which in 2024 reached $US235 bn ($A353 bn), according to US Census Bureau data. The EU points to the US surplus in services, which it says partially redresses the balance. Trump also talked on Sunday about the "hundreds of billions of dollars" that tariffs were bringing in. The United States has struck a framework trade deal with the European Union, imposing a 15 per cent import tariff on most EU goods, but averting a spiralling battle between two allies which account for almost a third of global trade. The announcement came after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen travelled for talks with US President Donald Trump at his golf course in western Scotland to push a hard-fought deal over the line. "I think this is the biggest deal ever made," Trump told reporters after an hour-long meeting with von der Leyen, who said the 15 per cent tariff applied "across the board". "We have a trade deal between the two largest economies in the world, and it's a big deal. It's a huge deal. It will bring stability. It will bring predictability," she said. The deal, which also includes $US600 billion ($A901 bn) of EU investments in the United States and $US750 bn ($A1.1 trillion) of EU purchases of US energy over Trump's second term, will indeed bring clarity for EU companies. Even so, the baseline tariff will be seen by many in Europe as a poor outcome compared with the initial European ambition of a zero-for-zero tariff deal, although it is better than the threatened 30 per cent rate. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the deal, saying in a statement that a trade conflict had been averted that would have hit Germany's export-driven economy and its large auto sector hard. But Bernd Lange, the German Social Democrat who chairs the trade committee of the European Parliament, said he was "quite critical" because the tariffs were imbalanced and the pledged investment would likely come at the expense of EU industry. The euro rose around 0.2 per cent against the dollar, sterling and yen within an hour of the deal being announced. The deal mirrors key parts of the framework agreement the United States clinched with Japan last week. "We are agreeing that the tariff ... for automobiles and everything else will be a straight-across tariff of 15 per cent," Trump said. That rate will not, however, apply to steel and aluminium, for which a 50 per cent tariff will remain in place, although von der Leyen said it would be cut and replaced with a quota system. Von der Leyen said the rate also applied to semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, and there would be no tariffs from either side on aircraft and aircraft parts, certain chemicals, certain generic drugs, semiconductor equipment, some agricultural products, natural resources and critical raw materials. "We will keep working to add more products to this list," she said, adding that the situation on spirits was still to be established. Trump, who is seeking to reorder the global economy and reduce decades-old US trade deficits, has so far reeled in agreements with Britain, Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam, although his administration has failed to deliver on a promise of "90 deals in 90 days." Arriving in Scotland, Trump said the EU wanted "to make a deal very badly" and said, as he met von der Leyen, that Europe had been "very unfair to the United States". His main bugbear is the US merchandise trade deficit with the EU, which in 2024 reached $US235 bn ($A353 bn), according to US Census Bureau data. The EU points to the US surplus in services, which it says partially redresses the balance. Trump also talked on Sunday about the "hundreds of billions of dollars" that tariffs were bringing in. The United States has struck a framework trade deal with the European Union, imposing a 15 per cent import tariff on most EU goods, but averting a spiralling battle between two allies which account for almost a third of global trade. The announcement came after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen travelled for talks with US President Donald Trump at his golf course in western Scotland to push a hard-fought deal over the line. "I think this is the biggest deal ever made," Trump told reporters after an hour-long meeting with von der Leyen, who said the 15 per cent tariff applied "across the board". "We have a trade deal between the two largest economies in the world, and it's a big deal. It's a huge deal. It will bring stability. It will bring predictability," she said. The deal, which also includes $US600 billion ($A901 bn) of EU investments in the United States and $US750 bn ($A1.1 trillion) of EU purchases of US energy over Trump's second term, will indeed bring clarity for EU companies. Even so, the baseline tariff will be seen by many in Europe as a poor outcome compared with the initial European ambition of a zero-for-zero tariff deal, although it is better than the threatened 30 per cent rate. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the deal, saying in a statement that a trade conflict had been averted that would have hit Germany's export-driven economy and its large auto sector hard. But Bernd Lange, the German Social Democrat who chairs the trade committee of the European Parliament, said he was "quite critical" because the tariffs were imbalanced and the pledged investment would likely come at the expense of EU industry. The euro rose around 0.2 per cent against the dollar, sterling and yen within an hour of the deal being announced. The deal mirrors key parts of the framework agreement the United States clinched with Japan last week. "We are agreeing that the tariff ... for automobiles and everything else will be a straight-across tariff of 15 per cent," Trump said. That rate will not, however, apply to steel and aluminium, for which a 50 per cent tariff will remain in place, although von der Leyen said it would be cut and replaced with a quota system. Von der Leyen said the rate also applied to semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, and there would be no tariffs from either side on aircraft and aircraft parts, certain chemicals, certain generic drugs, semiconductor equipment, some agricultural products, natural resources and critical raw materials. "We will keep working to add more products to this list," she said, adding that the situation on spirits was still to be established. Trump, who is seeking to reorder the global economy and reduce decades-old US trade deficits, has so far reeled in agreements with Britain, Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam, although his administration has failed to deliver on a promise of "90 deals in 90 days." Arriving in Scotland, Trump said the EU wanted "to make a deal very badly" and said, as he met von der Leyen, that Europe had been "very unfair to the United States". His main bugbear is the US merchandise trade deficit with the EU, which in 2024 reached $US235 bn ($A353 bn), according to US Census Bureau data. The EU points to the US surplus in services, which it says partially redresses the balance. Trump also talked on Sunday about the "hundreds of billions of dollars" that tariffs were bringing in.


The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
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Despite the concept being nearly 2.2m wide, the cabin is snug. Inspired by the bisected design of the C8's interior, the California has barely any buttons with most of the controls located in the touchscreen in the steering wheel hub. The car's body is designed around an "assumed" T-shaped primastic battery pack that's said to allow for a lower seating position, and better airflow around and through the vehicle. Other aero pieces include an active spoiler and air brake. The concept rides on 21-inch wheels up front, and 22-inch rims at the rear. At just 1051mm tall and 2183mm wide, the California concept is considerably wider than the standard eighth-generation Corvette Stingray, which is 1234mm tall and 1933mm wide. In length (4669mm) and wheelbase (2767mm), the concept car is about 40mm longer than the Stingray. According to Chevrolet there is "no production intent behind this design study". Recent rumblings from GM indicate an all-electric Corvette is off the table in the immediate future. Tony Roma, lead engineer for GM Performance, told Autocar at the launch of the Corvette ZR1X, an electric Corvette couldn't be just about performance numbers, and would have to be "engaging" and centred around the "art of driving". "We're not going to do an electric version of this car just to do it. That would defeat the entire purpose," he continued. MORE: Everything Chevrolet Corvette Content originally sourced from: The second of three electric Chevrolet Corvette concepts has surfaced, although GM is very keen to point out that this car in no way previews a Corvette EV. While the first electric Corvette concept, which debuted in April, came from the company's design team in the UK, the latest hails from GM's Advanced Design studios in Pasadena, on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Although there are no details about where the concept's motors are located, the California Corvette concept, as it's known, sticks to the mid-engine supercar design template. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Compared to the current mid-engine 'C8' Corvette, the California Corvette pushes the styling boundaries a little further. The base of the windscreen, for example, sits above the front the axle line. The front-hinged canopy is said to make ingress and egress easier, and can also be taken off to transform the concept into an open-air track car. Despite the concept being nearly 2.2m wide, the cabin is snug. Inspired by the bisected design of the C8's interior, the California has barely any buttons with most of the controls located in the touchscreen in the steering wheel hub. The car's body is designed around an "assumed" T-shaped primastic battery pack that's said to allow for a lower seating position, and better airflow around and through the vehicle. Other aero pieces include an active spoiler and air brake. The concept rides on 21-inch wheels up front, and 22-inch rims at the rear. At just 1051mm tall and 2183mm wide, the California concept is considerably wider than the standard eighth-generation Corvette Stingray, which is 1234mm tall and 1933mm wide. In length (4669mm) and wheelbase (2767mm), the concept car is about 40mm longer than the Stingray. According to Chevrolet there is "no production intent behind this design study". Recent rumblings from GM indicate an all-electric Corvette is off the table in the immediate future. Tony Roma, lead engineer for GM Performance, told Autocar at the launch of the Corvette ZR1X, an electric Corvette couldn't be just about performance numbers, and would have to be "engaging" and centred around the "art of driving". "We're not going to do an electric version of this car just to do it. That would defeat the entire purpose," he continued. MORE: Everything Chevrolet Corvette Content originally sourced from: The second of three electric Chevrolet Corvette concepts has surfaced, although GM is very keen to point out that this car in no way previews a Corvette EV. While the first electric Corvette concept, which debuted in April, came from the company's design team in the UK, the latest hails from GM's Advanced Design studios in Pasadena, on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Although there are no details about where the concept's motors are located, the California Corvette concept, as it's known, sticks to the mid-engine supercar design template. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Compared to the current mid-engine 'C8' Corvette, the California Corvette pushes the styling boundaries a little further. The base of the windscreen, for example, sits above the front the axle line. The front-hinged canopy is said to make ingress and egress easier, and can also be taken off to transform the concept into an open-air track car. Despite the concept being nearly 2.2m wide, the cabin is snug. Inspired by the bisected design of the C8's interior, the California has barely any buttons with most of the controls located in the touchscreen in the steering wheel hub. The car's body is designed around an "assumed" T-shaped primastic battery pack that's said to allow for a lower seating position, and better airflow around and through the vehicle. Other aero pieces include an active spoiler and air brake. The concept rides on 21-inch wheels up front, and 22-inch rims at the rear. At just 1051mm tall and 2183mm wide, the California concept is considerably wider than the standard eighth-generation Corvette Stingray, which is 1234mm tall and 1933mm wide. In length (4669mm) and wheelbase (2767mm), the concept car is about 40mm longer than the Stingray. According to Chevrolet there is "no production intent behind this design study". Recent rumblings from GM indicate an all-electric Corvette is off the table in the immediate future. Tony Roma, lead engineer for GM Performance, told Autocar at the launch of the Corvette ZR1X, an electric Corvette couldn't be just about performance numbers, and would have to be "engaging" and centred around the "art of driving". "We're not going to do an electric version of this car just to do it. That would defeat the entire purpose," he continued. MORE: Everything Chevrolet Corvette Content originally sourced from: The second of three electric Chevrolet Corvette concepts has surfaced, although GM is very keen to point out that this car in no way previews a Corvette EV. While the first electric Corvette concept, which debuted in April, came from the company's design team in the UK, the latest hails from GM's Advanced Design studios in Pasadena, on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Although there are no details about where the concept's motors are located, the California Corvette concept, as it's known, sticks to the mid-engine supercar design template. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Compared to the current mid-engine 'C8' Corvette, the California Corvette pushes the styling boundaries a little further. The base of the windscreen, for example, sits above the front the axle line. The front-hinged canopy is said to make ingress and egress easier, and can also be taken off to transform the concept into an open-air track car. Despite the concept being nearly 2.2m wide, the cabin is snug. Inspired by the bisected design of the C8's interior, the California has barely any buttons with most of the controls located in the touchscreen in the steering wheel hub. The car's body is designed around an "assumed" T-shaped primastic battery pack that's said to allow for a lower seating position, and better airflow around and through the vehicle. Other aero pieces include an active spoiler and air brake. The concept rides on 21-inch wheels up front, and 22-inch rims at the rear. At just 1051mm tall and 2183mm wide, the California concept is considerably wider than the standard eighth-generation Corvette Stingray, which is 1234mm tall and 1933mm wide. In length (4669mm) and wheelbase (2767mm), the concept car is about 40mm longer than the Stingray. According to Chevrolet there is "no production intent behind this design study". Recent rumblings from GM indicate an all-electric Corvette is off the table in the immediate future. Tony Roma, lead engineer for GM Performance, told Autocar at the launch of the Corvette ZR1X, an electric Corvette couldn't be just about performance numbers, and would have to be "engaging" and centred around the "art of driving". "We're not going to do an electric version of this car just to do it. That would defeat the entire purpose," he continued. MORE: Everything Chevrolet Corvette Content originally sourced from: