Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa faces a pivotal moment as he navigates the automaker’s sprawling array of 14 brands, from powerhouse Jeep and Ram to struggling Italian nameplates like Maserati and Lancia. Six months into his tenure, Filosa has hinted at potential portfolio adjustments without committing to divestitures, emphasizing the value of historic marques while Wall Street demands clarity amid declining sales and a 43% stock drop since the 2021 merger.

Appointed in May 2025 after Carlos Tavares’s abrupt exit amid dealer backlash and profit plunges, Filosa, a 25-year company veteran, took the helm on June 23, 2025. He retains oversight of North American brands, signaling a U.S.-centric focus. Global sales fell 12.3% to 5.7 million units in 2024 from 6.5 million in 2021, with U.S. volumes down 27% to 1.3 million, eroding market share from 11.6% to 8% and dropping Stellantis to sixth place, per CNBC.

At the Detroit Auto Show, Filosa sipped espresso and told reporters, “Everybody would like to have Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat, Peugeot, Citroen, Opel… So we are privileged to have some big, historic brands in our portfolio.” He deferred major decisions to an upcoming Capital Markets Day in early 2026, saying, “we will talk about that as well,” as reported by USA Today.

Turnaround Priorities Take Shape

Filosa calls 2026 the “year of execution,” prioritizing Jeep and Ram in the U.S. while reversing Tavares’s aggressive EV push. Plans include new Jeeps like a revived Cherokee, Ram trucks, and the HEMI V8’s return, alongside hybrids and range-extended electrics. Plug-in hybrids like Jeep Wrangler 4xe are discontinued, and the electric Dodge Charger axed. This shift addresses affordability, with models under $30,000 eyed after tariffs cost $1.7 billion in H1 2025, according to Yahoo Finance.

U.S. sales rose in Q3 2025, the first increase in eight quarters, via price cuts and cheaper models. Filosa targets 6-8% adjusted operating income mid-term, though analysts forecast under 5% before 2027, per Carscoops. He announced $13 billion invested in American brands, creating 5,000 direct jobs in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, plus 20,000 supplier roles and 50% production growth.

“We are a global company with strong regional roots,” Filosa stated, outlining principles of customer focus and collaboration, as detailed in CNBC. Yet, Fiat and Alfa Romeo lag domestically, prompting regional refocus talks.

Weak Links in the Portfolio

Stellantis’s brands—Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall—span mass-market to luxury, but overlaps drain resources. In Europe, Alfa Romeo sold 47,699 units YTD, up 38.6% via the Junior SUV, outpacing Lancia (9,844, down 68.3%) and DS, bundled poorly. Maserati dropped 17.1% to 3,538, per Motor1.

Reuters reports Filosa assessing all 14 brands’ viability, with DS, Lancia, and Maserati vulnerable. Chrysler clings to Pacifica/Voyager minivans; Fiat and Alfa Romeo struggle in the U.S. An “emergency room” reviews operations, prioritizing volume over margins, reversing Tavares’s cuts, as noted in CNBC.

Filosa told Automotive News, “We want to stay together. It’s a good combination,” valuing global icons like Jeep alongside regional players like Fiat and Peugeot, per Automotive News. Still, analysts like Bernstein flag Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and DS as weak.

Regional Strategies and Leadership Shifts

Filosa’s team emphasizes regional decision-making: He heads North America/American brands; Jean-Philippe Imparato oversees Enlarged Europe & European Brands, now including Maserati. This structure leverages local expertise for brands’ emotional pull, as Filosa said upon announcement: “It is my great privilege to take the lead of Stellantis, a global company with deep regional roots,” via Stellantis.

In Italy, Alfa Romeo’s next Giulia/Stelvio delay to 2028 incorporates ICE, PHEV, EREV on STLA Large platform. Maserati eyes Europe investments pending regulations. South America grows under Filosa’s past success, boosting Fiat to market leader.

U.S. dealers, scorched by Tavares’s “disaster,” welcome Filosa’s trust-building. Stock at $9.60, down 4.2% recently, trades at low multiples; Piper Sandler upgraded to Overweight ($15 target), BofA Neutral ($11.95), citing U.S. momentum offsetting Europe weakness, per Intellectia.

Investor Eyes on Capital Markets Day

Filosa won’t unveil sweeping changes pre-Capital Markets Day, expected Q1/Q2 2026. Potential moves: U.S. withdrawal of Fiat/Alfa Romeo, Maserati sale rumors, or consolidations like Alfa-Lancia ties. He stresses intact structure to compete, telling reporters the portfolio question is “interesting.”

Challenges persist: EV transition lags, tariffs bite, Europe softens. Yet Q3 U.S. gains and job pledges signal momentum. Filosa’s Jeep tenure expanded global reach, launching Avenger in Europe.

As Stellantis marks five years, Filosa’s execution will decide if the brand constellation thrives or contracts, balancing heritage with profitability in a cutthroat industry.