Latest news with #CarlosTavares
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Stellantis and Amazon discontinue in-car technology partnership
Stellantis and Amazon are discontinuing their partnership on the SmartCockpit in-car software project, initially aimed at enhancing the driving experience and showcasing their vehicle-tech capabilities. Both the firms have mutually decided to wind down their collaboration, reported Reuters. The SmartCockpit project was intended to integrate Amazon's technology into vehicles to create a more personalised and connected driving experience. The project's termination is emblematic of the challenges traditional automakers face in adopting advanced vehicle software in partnership with Silicon Valley. A statement from the firms said: "Stellantis remains a valuable partner for Amazon, and the companies continue to work together on a range of initiatives." The SmartCockpit project, announced in 2022, was expected to transform Stellantis vehicles into smart, connected environments, offering personalised settings and home automation features. The venture was part of Stellantis's strategy to compete with electric vehicle leaders like Tesla and BYD, leveraging Amazon's software prowess. Stellantis's former CEO Carlos Tavares had expressed his ambition for the partnership to make their vehicles "the most wanted, most captivating place to be, even when not driving." However, Tavares's abrupt departure last year and Stellantis's declining stock value, which fell by around 40% in 2024, have marked a period of difficulty for the automaker. The importance of automotive software has grown significantly, with it controlling various aspects of modern vehicles, including safety features and infotainment systems. Legacy automakers have been challenged to develop these systems efficiently, often resulting in partnerships or talent acquisition from tech companies. While the specific reasons for the SmartCockpit project's end are unclear, both companies have stated that the decision allows them to concentrate on solutions that align with their evolving strategies. Stellantis, which manages a complex array of models and suppliers, faces greater challenges in software implementation compared to companies with simpler lineups, like Tesla. The SmartCockpit was part of Stellantis's broader technological initiative, including the STLA Brain electrical architecture and the Autodrive driver-assistance system. Despite the end of this partnership, Stellantis will continue to use Amazon Web Services for data storage and updates, and Alexa will remain available in some of its vehicles. Stellantis may seek alternative operating systems, such as Google's Android platform, to continue the development of SmartCockpit. Amazon's internal team, working on what was known as "Project Quatro," aimed to compete with Google's Automotive Services, the prevalent Android-based system used by many automakers. "Stellantis and Amazon discontinue in-car technology partnership" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
Stellantis CEO Filosa To-Do List Topped By Profitability Restoration
New Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa's check list includes restoring profitability, negotiating his way around the U.S. tariff upheaval, facing down the electric vehicle revolution, and then figuring out what to do with all those brands. Stellantis's operating profit margin in 2024 was 5.5%, down sharply from 2023's 12.8%. Stellantis had said before the Trump tariffs problems that it expects little improvement in 2025. Last year, industrial cash flow was a negative €6 billion ($6.8 billion) compared with 2023's positive €12.9 billion ($14.6 billion). The merger between Fiat Chrysler and France's Groupe PSA in 2021 was named Stellantis and included 14 brands. Since then a joint venture with LeapMotor of China has been added. Former CEO Carlos Tavares orchestrated the merger, but shocked shareholders by quitting in December, about a year before the end of his contract. Tavares had been lauded as a financial genius as he welded together many brands which quickly became hugely profitable, despite being mainly mass-market ventures. Overlapping technologies were dropped and economies of scale exploited. One of the brands, Opel and its British Vauxhall affiliate, had been a chronic loss maker when owned by General Motors. Many of the other European brands including Citroen, Peugeot, Fiat and Lancia competed against other in the mass market. DS, Alfa Romeo and Abarth sit in the wannabe premium sector. Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Chrysler were in the U.S. Storied Italian sportscar maker Maserati sits atop of the list. Tavares had said that because of the apparent overlapping of many of the brands, they would be given 10 years to justify their existence. That expires in 2031, but pressure is likely to amount quickly for them to prove their worth. Profitability of the various brands was propelled to unprecedented highs by post-covid pandemic supply-constraints. But Tavares's credibility was undermined by the collapse of profitability in North America. U.S. brands were particularly hard hit when these unusual conditions expired. Automotive News columnist Jamie Butters said Tavares become 'profoundly' unpopular in his last year. 'Pressure on suppliers to bear the costs of electrification led to court battles and missed shipments. Missteps in the U.S. market prompted dealers to call for his resignation. The inability to justify investing in the Belvidere, Ill., plant outraged the UAW, which had counted that plant's revival as a major win from Shawn Fain's historic 2023 contract negotiations. Salaried employees weren't happy either, fielding multiple rounds of buyout offers. So pretty much every stakeholder group was against him,' Butters said. Jeep Cherokee SUV getty 'After that Filosa (a 25-year company veteran) looks pretty good,' Butters said. There had been speculation that Stellantis would recruit from another company or even another industry. After all the late, great Sergio Marchionne was recruited from outside the automotive industry. Italian luxury sports car maker Ferrari, spun off from Stellantis component Fiat-Chrysler in 2016, reached outside to appoint Benedetto Vigna. 'The decision by John Elkann (provisional Stellantis CEO after Tavares left) and the Ferrari board in 2021 to appoint Benedetto Vigna, who had been running STMicro's sensors division, as Ferrari CEO has turned out to be inspired, and Vigna has since driven (Ferrari) to ever greater heights,' Bernstein Research said in a report. 'Antonio Filosa also brings a deep understanding of the U.S. market, something which the group's dealer body persistently accused Carlos Tavares of ignoring its legitimate concerns,' Bernstein Research said. In Europe the obvious weakling brands are Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and DS. Analysts say at least 10 brands are in dire need of fresh products. Two of them count on only one model. The positioning is not clear either: Opel is very similar to Peugeot. Fiat is very similar to Citroen. Lancia wants to enter the premium segment, where DS and Alfa Romeo are already struggling. Maserati hasn't been able to find its identity and is stuck somewhere between the premium and luxury segments. Filosa will have to fix the profit problem and decide what to do with all those brands. Selling some off might well meet willing buyers from China eager to raise their profile in Europe and avoid recently erected high EU tariffs for EVs. Stellantis, after reporting first quarter sales fell 14% to €35.8 billion ($40.6 billion) compared with the same period last year, said it would not make any predictions about its profits for the year. Stellantis reports profits every six months, not quarterly. Filosa faces big decisions over the next six to 12 months requiring significant strategic adjustments. Cost-cutting measures, better alignment of production with demand, and improved software and electrification strategies will be crucial, analysts say. HSBC Global Research, in a report on Filosa's appointment. offered these bullet points – On paper his CV looks a good fit for the role, given he is: - An auto guy, having worked exclusively in the industry for over 25 years - A Italian native from Naples, so understands Europe - Has spent a good deal of time in South America (Stellantis 3rd largest profit source) - Lives in Detroit, which is arguably where the heavy lifting needs to be done.
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Ex-Stellantis Boss Says New CEO Is ‘Logical' Choice
Six months after he quit as chief executive of automaker Stellantis NV, Carlos Tavares lives on a farm, makes port wine, and says he has sympathy for anyone stepping into the auto industry during the 'chaos' of the US trade war. On Wednesday, Stellantis named Antonio Filosa its new CEO. Filosa is a company veteran picked, in part, because of his US experience, finally replacing Tavares, who stepped down in December after presiding over slumping sales and profit.
Auto Blog
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Who Is Antonio Filosa? 5 Things to Know About Dodge, Jeep & RAM's New CEO
It's official After a six-month-long search that began shortly after the departure of embattled former CEO Carlos Tavares, multinational auto conglomerate Stellantis has finally found a new Chief Executive to lead the whole operation. In a statement released early on May 28, Stellantis revealed that Antonio Filosa was unanimously selected to be at the helm. They noted that they selected him based on a 'proven track record of hands-on success during his more than 25 years in the automotive industry, the depth and span of his experience around the world, his unrivalled knowledge of the Company and his recognized leadership qualities.' Antonio Filosa meeting at factory In remarks, Stellantis Executive Chairman John Elkann stated that the 51-year-old's 'deep understanding of the company' and its employees was crucial as Stellantis navigates a new chapter. 'I have worked closely with Antonio over the past six months, during which time his responsibilities have increased, and his strong and effective leadership spanning both North and South America at a moment of unprecedented challenge has confirmed the excellent qualities he brings to the role,' he said. 'Together with the entire Board, I look forward to working with him.' Once he formally takes the helm on June 23, Filosa will have a tall task of running an automaker responsible for a portfolio of 14 distinct, separate brands with origins in both Europe and the United States, as well as navigating a challenging trade environment dictated by the Trump Administration's steep tariffs in imported autos. However, there are five important things to know about Antonio Filosa, his background, and what he stands for before he took the helm of one of the world's largest automakers. Antonio Filosa, CEO of Jeep, signs a guest book as he prepares to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on May 31, 2024 in New York City. One: Filosa has deep roots within Stellantis and its car brands. Born in 1973 in Naples, Italy, Filosa has worn many hats within Stellantis and its many brands since joining the Fiat Group as a trainee after graduating from the Politecnico di Milano in 1999. After brief stints at some of Fiat's subsidiaries, Iveco and CNH, he returned to Fiat in 2002, where for nearly two decades, he held a series of leadership roles spanning industrial operations, manufacturing, and strategic development across North and South America. Filosa's first stint at a C-suite level position came in 2018, when he was appointed as the South American Chief Operating Officer for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), which he retained following the 2021 merger with Peugeot that created Stellantis. Since then, his role in growing Jeep's market share in Brazil earned him the role as CEO of Jeep, which he held from November 2023 to February 2025, only to be promoted to Chief Quality Officer and Chief Operating Officer for the Americas in December 2024. Two: Filosa is known to be a 'hands-on' leader Stellantis credits Filosa's 'proven track record of hands-on success' as a core tenet of his 25-year experience within Stellantis and Fiat Chrysler, defining their decision to promote him to lead the automaker. However, this sort of leadership quality has roots before Stellantis was even established. The largest part of Filosa's 26-year career was spent in Brazil, where he was tasked with increasing responsibilities that would ultimately build the company's footprint in the country and the South American continent. Nearly a decade ago, Filosa held the plant manager position in Betim, one of the firm's largest plants. By this time, he had worked in different people-facing roles within Fiat in the country, as expressed in a 2014 Fiat Chrysler recruiting video. 'I always looked for the opportunity to work across to learn about the strategic processes. I believe this is the source of a great professional development. The great development that I had in 10 years working with Fiat. I am sure that I would not have had this opportunity in other companies,' Filosa said. 'What makes the difference here at Fiat is the motivation qnd energy of the people.' Tim Kuniskis, head of passenger cars brands with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, speaks during a Chrysler presentation during the 2016 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., Three: Filosa was instrumental in bringing back key leaders In October 2024, Filosa dropped his role as the Jeep brand CEO to become the North American Chief Operating Officer. Following the resignation of former CEO Carlos Tavares in December 2024, Filosa was called up to lead the entire Americas region as COO and join the interim executive committee led by Stellantis Chairman John Elkann. In his enhanced role as Americas COO, Filosa filled key roles in its most important regions with experienced veterans who understand the customers in key markets like North America. These included Tim Kuniskis's return from retirement as CEO of Ram Trucks and Jeff Kommor's return from his former Tavares-appointed commercial sales role to his former role as the U.S. head of sales; moves that Stellantis said would help it 'operate in a structure that will drive the best outcomes for the region, unlock significant potential, and win in the market.' 'One of my first decisions has been to bring back talents that we lost in the past,' Filosa told reporters at the Detroit Auto Show in January. 'That's why I was very happy when Kuniskis accepted the challenge to come back. I was very happy when Jeff Kommor accepted the challenge.' Four: Filosa recognizes the importance of the American auto market A massive dip in vehicle sales, the fledgling EV market, and the threat presented by the Trump administration's auto tariffs are just some of the pressing issues loaded onto Antonio Filosa's plate before taking the helm as Stellantis's leader, but he recognizes that U.S. sales are a top priority. In remarks to CNBC on the floor of the Detroit Auto Show in January, Filosa says that the re-appointment of Kuniskis and Kommor, along with reestablishing relationships with its dealers and adjusting its strategy on incentives and new products, is one part of growing its brands' sales and market share in the U.S., adding that 'U.S. retail market share is our main priority.' 'The whole point is to sell more, right? It's a very complex business but it ends with just one thing, a customer that is happy to buy our cars. We need to find more of those,' he told the Detroit Free Press at the show. Jeep Brand CEO Antonio Filosa introducing to the world to the brand's first global battery-electric vehicle (BEV) – the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition. Five: Filosa believes that flexibility between EVs and gas-engine cars are key to success. In an April 2024 Automotive News interview during his tenure as Jeep CEO, he noted that a core tenet of the brand's strategy was offering a variety of different powertrain choices, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid and gas-engine options; taking lessons from failed strategy plans in Europe as an example. '[…] where we see opportunities [to add internal-combustion engine variants], pragmatically we should exploit them,' FIlosa said. 'The European market as a whole was not ready for an electric-only Avenger, thus we should have launched a gasoline version sooner in Italy, Spain and Poland. Lesson learned.' Despite saying in that same interview that the brands need to sell ICE cars before 'somebody else will,' he is optimistic of some bridge technologies that critics have dismissed as being flawed; particularly plug-in hybrids. When asked about EU data's findings about plug-in hybrids emitting more CO2 than advertised, he defended his optimism for it. 'On my side, in the U.S. I drive a Grand Cherokee 4xe. I charge it at night with a home socket and I make my 22-mile (36 km) daily commute all electric. This is simply fantastic.' Stellantis North America COO and Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa speaks during the Stellantis press conference at the Automobility LA 2024. Final thoughts Filosa and Stellantis still have a long way to go before the new CEO officially takes the helm, but given the return of Kuniskis and Kommor, he is already making those CEO-level moves. As I have also expressed with Nissan's Ivan Espinosa, it is still too early to tell what and which direction Antonio Filosa will go. We hope it is up, but only time will tell if he will get there. Let him cook.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Amazon's in-car software deal with Stellantis is winding down
Amazon's deal with Stellantis to create in-car software that the companies hoped would transform the driving experience while bolstering their vehicle-tech credentials is "winding down," the companies confirmed after a Reuters inquiry. The Stellantis SmartCockpit project, which would rely on Amazon's in-car technology, is the latest example of traditional automakers struggling to work with Silicon Valley to introduce more sophisticated vehicle software. 'Stellantis remains a valuable partner for Amazon, and the companies continue to work together on a range of initiatives," the companies said in a statement, adding that the decision to end their joint work on SmartCockpit was mutual. The project between the Seattle tech giant and the maker of Jeeps, Peugeots and Alfa Romeos was hailed by the CEOs of both companies when it was announced in 2022. The two planned to develop features that would make the cars feel like an extension of home by detecting the driver and personalising settings such as the thermostat, navigation and even home automation, like turning on lights. Stellantis had hoped Amazon's software expertise would help the global automaker in the race against companies like Tesla and China's BYD. And for Amazon it was meant to serve as a prototype for a wider rollout to more automakers. In a January 2022 press release, Stellantis's then-CEO Carlos Tavares said he hoped the partnership would help make the vehicles "the most wanted, most captivating place to be, even when not driving." Tavares left the automaker abruptly last year, and the company on Wednesday named its North American chief Antonio Filosa as its new chief executive. Stellantis has been trying to revive its slumping stock, which fell about 40% in 2024, amid disappointing sales, especially in North America. Automotive software has emerged as one of the most important, and difficult, areas for legacy automakers to nail. Much of what modern cars do today is dictated by code, including the feel of the brakes, infotainment system, and advanced driving-assistance features such as automated steering – for which automakers can charge subscription fees, unlocking significant revenue streams. Ford recently axed its next-generation electrical architecture due to ballooning costs around the technology. Reuters couldn't determine any singular reason the partnership on SmartCockpit ended. The companies said the shift "will allow each team to focus on solutions that provide value to our shared customers and better align with our evolving strategies." Relative newcomers, like Elon Musk's Tesla, built electrical and software systems that can quickly deliver new features or fixes to customers at a lower cost to the company. Traditional carmakers, including Volkswagen and General Motors, have struggled to master these systems on their own, and have been poaching talent from Silicon Valley or forming partnerships in an effort to reverse that trend. Unlike Tesla which has very little complexity across its smaller lineup of vehicles, Stellantis manages dozens of models across 14 brands and a maze of global suppliers, increasing the challenges around implementing new software. SmartCockpit was initially planned to arrive in vehicles in late 2024 to early 2025. It was a part of what Stellantis called its ABC platform, which included its electrical architecture, called STLA Brain, and Autodrive driver-assistance system. Under the agreement, Stellantis would pay Amazon for access to the software in each car, as well as other maintenance fees. As envisioned, Amazon would pay Stellantis incentive fees for things like drivers signing up for its music subscription service through the vehicles, two sources said. The automaker also partnered with Amazon to use the tech company's cloud business, called Amazon Web Services, to store and update data across its complex lineup. Stellantis will continue to rely on AWS, the companies said, and Alexa will also still be available in some Stellantis vehicles. Stellantis could potentially continue work on the SmartCockpit with another operating system as its base, such as Google's Android platform, people familiar with the matter said. Amazon hoped that the team's work, internally called Digital Cabin or 'Project Quattro,' would rival Google's Automotive Services, the standard Android-based operating system used by many automakers, one of the sources said. Most of Amazon's Digital Cabin staff has been reassigned or left the company, one of the people said.
