Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares Talks EV Pricing, US Inventories
Oct 14, 2024
auto_awesome
Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, shares insights on the electric vehicle landscape, emphasizing the need for affordable pricing and competitive strategies. He discusses the impact of European trade tariffs on Chinese manufacturers and the importance of localized production to enhance competitiveness. Tavares addresses challenges in U.S. inventories and plans to improve operational efficiencies while exploring opportunities for collaboration. He also highlights the significance of government support for boosting EV sales in the face of overcapacity in the European auto market.
Stellantis leverages partnerships, like Leap Motors, to navigate EU tariffs by manufacturing vehicles locally, ensuring competitive EV pricing.
The company addresses inventory challenges in North America by optimizing dealer collaboration to improve market share and consumer trust.
Deep dives
Impact of Tariffs on Automotive Strategy
The episode discusses the implications of recent EU tariffs on Chinese automobiles, particularly how they affect Stellantis’s business strategy. One key approach is leveraging partnerships, specifically with Leap Motors, to circumvent these tariffs by manufacturing vehicles within the EU. This strategy not only allows Stellantis to maintain competitive pricing for electric vehicles (EVs) but also ensures they can adapt to local market requirements efficiently. By controlling exports and utilizing their dealer network globally, Stellantis positions itself advantageously against competitors facing similar tariff constraints.
Balancing Production and Inventory in North America
Another significant point addresses Stellantis’s operational challenges in North America, specifically regarding inventory levels. The company had a misguided marketing strategy that resulted in excessive vehicle inventory, but recent corrective measures have led to a notable reduction in unsold vehicles. As inventory is streamlined to a more advantageous level, Stellantis aims to restore its market share and consumer confidence. The focus now shifts towards optimizing dealer collaboration to ensure a more successful go-to-market strategy.
Government Engagement for Demand Stimulation
Stellantis emphasizes the need for European governments to provide stability and incentivize demand for EVs, particularly in light of the strict ZEV mandates. The company calls for supportive measures that alleviate cost pressures on consumers, enabling a smoother transition to electrification. Without such incentives, Stellantis warns that it may need to make difficult decisions, including potential plant closures, to align production with realistic market demands. The leadership underscores the importance of consumer accessibility to EVs at competitive prices to fulfill sustainability goals and maintain profitability.
Stellantis Executive Director & CEO Carlos Tavares discusses EV makers demand from the European Governments, affordable price, inventories in the US and the company's pillars of strategies to "bring a lot of competitiveness to the market." Tavares spoke to Bloomberg's Lisa Abramowicz and Jonathan Ferro from the sidelines of the Paris auto show.