Stellantis dealers pin US turnaround hopes on new CEO Filosa
Farrish was the top signature on a letter in September admonishing Tavares for a pricing strategy that retailers complained led to a steep sales decline.
Tavares had pushed for cost cuts that alienated many car sellers, suppliers and unions. The company faced lawsuits from shareholders and unfair labour practice charges from the United Auto Workers union.
Stellantis has since been working to repair these connections and lift the company's stock price and North American sales. It brought back longtime executives such as Ram Chief Tim Kuniskis to lead its brands. Filosa has been meeting with dealers around the country and is expected to speak with the Stellantis dealer council on Wednesday.
The turnaround after Tavares' departure has been slow. First-quarter net revenues fell 14% year over year globally, and were down 25% in North America. Shipments in the region also faltered.
Filosa is tasked with reversing this slump while facing billions in added costs from tariffs on imported cars that US President Donald Trump implemented in April. Stellantis and some other carmakers have suspended their annual guidance, citing uncertainty around the levies.
The company in 2024 imported over 40% of the 1.2-million vehicles it sold in the US, mostly from Mexico and Canada.
Mark Trudell, general manager of Extreme Dodge Chrysler Jeep dealership in Jackson, Michigan, called Filosa's appointment the 'right decision' at this time.
'Everything I hear from the inside is that he knows the North America market better than his predecessor,' Trudell said. Stellantis executives need to prioritise where to go with the electric-vehicle market and how to handle tariffs, he added.
Thad Szott, dealer partner at Szott Auto Group, said Filosa came to his dealership in White Lake, Michigan, more than a year ago and talked to him for about an hour.
'He has had a lot of experience, listens to US dealer feedback, and I'm optimistic we will start taking US market share back,' Szott said.
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