- Carlos Tavares is out as Stellantis CEO following disagreements with the company’s board of directors.
- The executive was slated to retire in 2026, but resigned with immediate effect.
- A successor is expected to be named early next year but, in the meantime, the company will be lead by an interim executive committee headed by John Elkann.
In a surprising turn of events, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has resigned with immediate effect. The news was unexpected as the executive had previously said he planned to retire in 2026.
Stellantis released a short statement saying the company’s board of directors accepted the resignation and they’ve already started the search for a new CEO. A decision is expected to be made during the first half of 2025 but, in the meantime, an interim executive committee will be established and lead by Chairman John Elkann.
More: Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares Out In 2026 Amid Massive Executive Overhaul
In a statement, Elkann said “Our thanks go to Carlos for his years of dedicated service and the role he has played in the creation of Stellantis, in addition to the previous turnarounds of PSA and Opel, setting us on the path to becoming a global leader in our industry.” He added “I look forward to working with our new interim executive committee, supported by all our Stellantis colleagues, as we complete the process of appointing our new CEO. Together we will ensure the continued deployment of the company’s strategy in the long-term interests of Stellantis and all of its stakeholders.”
The automaker was tight-lipped on what sparked the sudden resignation, but Stellantis’ Senior Independent Director, Henri de Castries, hinted at disagreements with Tavares. Details are limited, but de Castries said “Stellantis’ success since its creation has been rooted in a perfect alignment between the reference shareholders, the Board and the CEO. However, in recent weeks, different views have emerged which have resulted in the Board and the CEO coming to today’s decision.”
John Elkann
This seems to imply the decision was mutual after the two sides butted heads. However, there’s no immediate word on what the disagreement(s) was about.
We’ll likely learn more in the coming days and weeks, but Tavares has been under pressure from virtually all sides. The UAW has openly called for his firing, while Italian workers went on strike in October to protest production cuts over the years. Dealers have also drawn their pitchforks as Stellantis has made a series of missteps that resulted in bloated price tags, too much inventory, and lackluster lineups.
