The beginning of the new year in the automotive industry has been marked by, among other things, the confirmation of the merger between the FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) and PSA (Peugeot Société Anonyme) groups; at the end of this month, the new giant Stellantis will officially see the light of day.

And giant it will be: the marriage of the two automotive groupe gives rise to the fourth largest manufacturer on the planet, behind Toyota, Volkswagen and the Renault/Nissan/Mitsubishi group.

In total, more than twelve brands will be grouped together under the Stellantis corporate banner. That's a lot. Too many in fact, in the eyes of many, especially since the company's new boss, Carlos Tavares, is known for his propensity to limit expenses. When the executive took over as head of the PSA Group in 2014, he succeeded in making the firm profitable after years in the red. Tavares also oversaw the PSA Group's takeover of Opel from General Motors in 2017, and brought the company back to profitability in just one year, something GM hadn't done in nearly 20 years.

As a result, some changes are to be expected. It should be noted that Carlos Tavares is not just a manager; it is said that gasoline runs through his veins. Therefore, though there will be changes, the decisions might not be purely financial in nature.

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