Carlos Tavares Will Leave Stellantis in 2026

It’s no secret in the trade that things haven't been going well for Stellantis for some time now. And over the past few weeks, one man in particular has been singled out for the company's woes: CEO Carlos Tavares.

There were even rumours recently of a move to replace him. Those have been met with official denials, but a statement released by Stellantis today confirmed Carlos Tavares will retire at the end of his mandate as CEO, i.e. at the beginning of 2026.

The situation for Stellantis is particularly difficult in the U.S., to the extent that the country's National Stellantis Dealer Council has warned the company that it faces disaster. Declining sales, an uncertain electric gamble for brands that have hitherto sold emotion with V8 engines, and substantial financial losses are creating strong headwinds.

Carlos Tavares has been at the helm since 2021, when Stellantis was founded. He was appointed to the position after the merger of Groupe PSA (Peugeot Société Anonyme) with FCA (Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles), on a five-year contract that expires at the beginning of 2026.

A few weeks ago came serious reports that the process leading to the appointment of a replacement has already begun. It is being conducted by a special committee of the board of directors, which is chaired by John Elkann, also Ferrari's chairman.

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