U.S. automakers reported strong sales overall for June and the second quarter – with a handful of notable exceptions. In the case of Stellantis, a 21% decline has led the automaker to order temporary layoffs at two plants – with more cuts possible.
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Stellantis CEO Announces Possible Job Cuts, Auburn Hills HQ Building Might Be Sold
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares promises massive job cuts as Stellantis attempts to restructure its operations. Several plants and even the company’s HQ building in Auburn Hills are all potential targets for job cuts.
Flexibility is Key, Stellantis CEO Tavares Tells Investors – Though “Arrogance” Almost Knocked it Down
Stellantis faces challenges and has lost ground in the U.S. CEO Carlos Tavares acknowledged during Thursday’s “Investors Day” conference, putting some of the blame on his own shoulders. But the carmaker’s flexible strategy and new products offer hope for the future and protect the company’s profitability, he promised analysts and shareholders.
Shake-Up at Stellantis Claims Once-Rising Star Tim Kuniskis
In the wake of the mega-merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Paris-based PSA, Tim Kuniskis seemed the fair-haired boy, the American executive CEO Carlos Tavares could turn to when there was a problem to be solved. But Kuniskis unexpectedly announced his retirement Friday, with replacements named to take on his duties at Dodge and Ram.
Plagued by Thefts, High Costs, Free2move Car-Sharing Service All But Shuts Down
Stellantis has all but completely abandoned its Free2move ride-sharing service due to a variety of problems including thefts, damage and high operating costs. Free2move continues operating only in Washington, D.C. and could close its U.S. operations entirely.
Stellantis Recalls 285,000 Cars Due To Faulty Airbags
Stellantis is recalling nearly 285,000 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 models due to faulty airbags that can explode and throw shrapnel.
With Stellantis Now Onboard, Tesla Has Won the Charger Battle
Stellantis will adopt the Tesla-style North American Charging Standard. The parent of brands including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram was the last holdout among major automakers to go with the NACS plug. It means owners will have access to a substantial wider network of plugs and formalizes Tesla’s Superchargers as the de facto winner in the charging battle. Tesla, meanwhile, is taking steps to prevent the embarrassing charger failures many owners ran into during a recent Midwest cold snap.
GM, Other Automakers Rethink EVs and May Shift Near-Term Emphasis to Hybrids, Plug-Ins
With EV sales growth slowing down, General Motors “is currently assessing” its massive investment in battery-electric vehicles. And, while it remains committed to CEO Mary Barra’s “path to an all-electric future,” it will shift more emphasis to the hybrids and plug-ins it was planning to abandon. And other automakers, including Ford and Stellantis, are likewise shifting direction. If anything, this validates Toyota’s strategy calling for a mix of EVs, hybrids and PHEVs, reports Headlight.News.
Stellantis Confirms Plans for Midsize Ram Pickup as Part of UAW Settlement
When Stellantis reached a tentative settlement with the UAW on Saturday there was a surprise buried in the agreement. As part of the deal, the automaker will build a long-awaited midsize pickup at the Belvidere, Illinois assembly plant it recently closed. And the new truck is likely to get a hybrid, possibly even an all-electric powertrain.
UAW’s Stand-Up Strike Shuts Down Stellantis’ Full-Size Ram Pickup Plant
With no major progress reported in contract talks with Detroit’s Big Three automakers, the UAW ordered nearly 7,000 workers to walk out at the most profitable plant operated by Stellantis, its Ram pickup line in the Detroit suburb of Sterling Heights.
“This is Deeply Personal to Me;” Ford Chairman Bill Ford Calls for End to UAW Strike
Nearly five weeks in, there appears to be no immediate end in sight for the UAW’s strike against Detroit’s Big Three. In his first appearance since the union’s contracts with his company expired, Ford Chairman Bill Ford spoke out, warning the walkout could destroy the American auto industry, and saying “We need to come together to bring an end to this acrimonious round of talks.”