Stellantis Chairman John Elkann recently visited Maserati’s headquarters in Modena, Italy, and held a town hall meeting with employees to address concerns about the company’s future. Meanwhile, Stellantis dealers are struggling with vehicle sales, which fell 14.8% in the US through November compared to the same period last year. The only brand posting a gain was Fiat, with 1,299 deliveries of its subcompact cars. Elkann’s visit to Auburn Hills, Michigan, also took place on December 2, where he met with employees and set the framework for the company going forward. However, recent cost-cutting measures have eliminated around 4,000 jobs in Detroit and other cities.
The company’s global sales figures reveal a dire situation, with vehicle shipments falling 20% globally and 30% in China, India, and Asia Pacific compared to the previous year. Maserati’s sales plummeted 60%, while Ram and Dodge sales fell by 20% and 27%, respectively. The only brand posting a gain was Fiat, which is likely due to its strong subcompact car sales. Elkann’s efforts to calm employee concerns come as Stellantis searches for a new CEO amid the company’s complicated future.
Despite Elkann’s efforts, Maserati remains a struggling brand within Stellantis, with extremely low sales volume and a pipeline of interest vehicles that are not gaining traction. The company’s dire situation has left dealers feeling edgy, wondering how they can remain profitable under the current circumstances. With the search for a new CEO ongoing, it remains to be seen whether Elkann’s efforts will be enough to stabilize Stellantis’ fortunes.
Source: https://www.autoweek.com/news/a63120117/stellantis-brand-shakeup-carlos-tavares