/regions/2024/10/11/maxnewsspecialtwo011046-6708deaf2ea34372089046.jpg)
The Stellantis group formalizes, this Friday, October 11, the retirement of its general director Carlos Tavares, at the beginning of 2026. An announcement received with indifference at the historic Sochaux factory, in Doubs.
The essentials of the day: our exclusive selection
Every day, our editorial team reserves the best regional news for you. A selection just for you, to stay in touch with your regions.
France Télévisions uses your email address to send you the newsletter “Today’s essentials: our exclusive selection”. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of this newsletter. Our privacy policy
“68 is a reasonable age to retire,” declared Carlos Tavares during his visit to the Sochaux factory (Doubs), Thursday October 3. It is now confirmed: the boss of the Stellantis group will leave in January 2026, at the end of his mandate. The car manufacturer announced it this Friday, October 11, during the night.
“For him to leave, it won’t bring a tear to my eyes,” reacted this morning Jérôme Boussard, CGT general secretary of the Sochaux factory, in Doubs. His mandate is a catastrophe for jobs, he has accelerated the cuts of positions.
Managing Director of PSA then of Stellantis since 2014, Carlos Tavares will retire in 2026. • © LIONEL VADAM / MAXPPP
During his mandate, Carlos Tavares will in fact regularly encourage his employees to leave, and will focus on low-cost countries such as Brazil, Morocco or Turkey. Methods denounced by unions in France, but also in Italy and the United States. During his visit to Sochaux, the boss responded to these criticisms: “It is normal that the entire social body of the company mobilizes to reduce its costs.”
“The management of this company is not afraid of being unpopular.”
Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis
Arriving in March 2014 as head of the board of PSA (Peugeot-Citröen), Carlos Tavares made a name for himself by restoring the group, weakened by the crisis which had caused the European market for new cars to fall. In 2021, he will lead the creation of Stellantis, resulting from the group’s merger with FCA (Fiat-Chrysler).
The announcement of his retirement comes as the group of fifteen brands faces financial difficulties. In July, Stellantis published a sharp decline in first-quarter results, due to an 18% drop in sales in North America. They plunged another 20% in the third quarter.
Faced with this overall “deterioration” of the automobile market on the American continent, Stellantis had to reassess its ambitions. At the end of September, the group now estimates its operating margin objective between 5.5% and 7% for 2024, far from the “double figures” initially announced.
“It is not Stellantis which is (in difficulty), isolated in the middle of the automobile industry (…), It is Stellantis, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, and it is probably not over”
Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis
A situation which annoys the employees of the factory, while Carlos Tavares’ salary amounted to 36.5 million euros in 2023. “Mr wants to reduce costs, make savings, but aside from that he takes 100,000 euros per day,” criticizes Jérôme Boussard.
From now on, employees are looking to the future: “Who will happen next? What sauce will we be eaten with?” asks the CGT secretary.
“We always have the fear of tomorrow, that it will be worse with the new boss.”
Jérôme Boussard, CGT general secretary of the Sochaux factory
New boss who is not yet known. A process to identify Carlos Tavares’ successor, entrusted to a special committee, was formally launched this Friday, October 11. It must complete its work in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The general manager says he is retiring following a “requirement” from his wife. He lives between France and Portugal, where he owns vineyards and a vintage car garage.
Every day, receive news from your region by newsletter.
Ignore
register
Every day, receive news from your region by newsletter.
choose a region
Your email address
validate your registration
France Télévisions uses your email address to send you the newsletter for your region. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of these newsletters. Our privacy policy