Things haven’t been great for Stellantis, especially the cars and brands that fall under the umbrella. Mass layoffs, low sales, and much disagreement from the car-buying public have occurred. Naturally, much of the trouble Stellantis has faced has been blamed on its CEO, Carlos Tavares. Now, he has resigned, effective immediately. 

Many believe Carlos was bent great for Stellantis and its cars

According to Reuters, Carlos Tavares shocked the car world by announcing his abrupt resignation from Stellantis on Sunday, December 1st. Of course, this comes after he said he’d be with the company until the end of his contract, which was supposed to happen in 2026. With this plan, the company would have had more time to select a new CEO. As mentioned, this also comes as Stellantis and its cars have been struggling, with dealerships saddled with mounting inventories.

So, why is Carlos Tavares stepping down now and not following the original plan? Well, Senior Independent Director Henri de Castries released a statement. Apparently, the shareholders, the board, and the now-former CEO had differing views on the company’s direction. Take that how you will. Now, the company plans to find new leadership in the early months of 2025. In the meantime, a committee will be in charge of Stellantis and its cars. 

Of course, several changes have been made at Stellantis in recent months. These include cost-cutting measures such as layoffs and decreased production for many vehicles. Naturally, many of these decisions have led to backlash from unions, as manufacturing plant employees have been highly impacted. 

It’s also important to note that Stellantis shares have tumbled 40% in value this year. By comparison, Ford is only down 7 percent, and GM happens to be way up. Notably, the most popular Stellants brands, Dodge and Jeep, are in a tailspin. Hopefully, new leadership will revitalize the reputation of Stellantis and its cars. Carlos Tavares has been CEO of Stellantis since the company was founded in 2021.

For more reading, check out this recent article on three cars that could save Stellantis.