- Newly elected Ohio Senator Moreno calls for U.S. ownership of Stellantis’ American assets.
- He is extremely critical of how Stellantis and its ex-CEO, Carlos Tavares, handled their US brands.
- North American sales fell 36 percent in the third quarter, raising concerns about its future.
Change is brewing in the American auto industry, and newly elected Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno is at the center of it. A former car dealer with strong opinions on Stellantis and its leadership, Moreno has a new vision: he wants the automaker to sell its U.S. assets back to American ownership. His stance reflects growing frustration with how Stellantis has managed brands like Jeep, Ram, Dodge, and Chrysler.
Stellantis hasn’t had the best year. North American sales for its brands plunged 36 percent in the third quarter alone. Adding to the turmoil, the company parted ways with CEO Carlos Tavares without a clear succession plan. Moreno’s critique stems from both the numbers and the perceived erosion of American identity within the brands.
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“They’ve been a terrible steward of the brands,” Moreno said to Bloomberg. “I’m hoping that John Elkann does the right thing and spins off Chrysler Corporation and puts its back in American ownership.” He had choice words for now-former CEO Carlos Tavares too: “This guy fired all the Americans. He’s been milking this company to death.” Moreno also believes Stellantis is going to shift production from the USA to other nations.
Stellantis responded by emphasizing its deep American roots and ongoing projects, stating, “With nearly 100 years of history in the US, the iconic brands of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram are at the heart of Stellantis’ strategy. Together with our partners and stakeholders, we will continue building Stellantis as the automotive company of the future.”
“We are proud to employ many thousands of people and support our communities across Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio,” it added. “2025 will be an exciting year, with many projects which will benefit from the group’s cutting-edge technology and scale.”
Moreno isn’t the only one who wants to see Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, and Ram run by an American company. Earlier this year, the great-grandson of Walter P. Chrysler, Frank B. Rhodes Jr., said he wants to create a new Chrysler Corporation comprising of the four brands with him at its helm. He’s already working with investors and workers in hopes of finding a way to bring them back under American control.
