After months of waiting, John Elkann it is finally presented before the parliamentary committees of the House and Senate. Intervened as interim CEO of Stellantis, following the resignation of Carlos Tavares, Elkann confirmed that the Appointment of new CEO will by the first half of 2025. “The process is proceeding according to the established schedule: the new CEO of Stellantis will be announced within the first half of the year”.
In his speech there were no new developments with respect to the Italy Plan announced in December, but confirmed the central role that the country will continue to play in the strategy of the Italian-French group.
Italy at the center of the Stellantis strategy
During his hearing, Elkann, in fact, reiterated the Italy's crucial role within the automotive group. “We have prepared ourselves very carefully, because for us Italy plays a central role“, underlined Gianni Agnelli’s nephew.
Looking back over the last twenty years, he highlighted the growth of the group to become the fourth largest car manufacturer in the world. “Today Stellantis is a profitable company, with a turnover of 157 billion and 5,5 million vehicles sold. Twenty years ago we were fighting for survival, today we are among the leaders in the sector. This is also thanks to Italy and the Italians, to whom we owe our gratitude”.
Since 2004, Stellantis has 16,7 million vehicles produced in Italy, generating a total value of almost 700 billion euros. Every euro created by the group, according to Elkann, generates another nine in the national economy. "Over the last twenty years, we have paid 14 billion in taxes directly to the treasury, which rises to 32,2 billion considering the revenue from VAT and taxes paid on behalf of employees." On the research and development front, he highlighted investments of 53 billion euros, with a ratio of 50:1 compared to the public contributions received.
The Italian Plan and the future of Italian factories
Elkann then illustrated the Investments planned for Italian factories. Pomigliano, production of the Panda Hybrid will continue until 2030, with the arrival of the new generation of the model. Melfi the new Jeep Compass and the Lancia Gamma will be produced, while in Cassino the STLA Large platform will be installed for the new Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio. In Mirafiori, finally, production of the Fiat 500 Hybrid will start by November 2025.
“In January and February 2025 alone, Panda was chosen by over 25.400 customers, with a market share of 10%, surpassing all competing brands in Italy. This demonstrates the continued affection of Italians for the Pandina,” he commented.
Sui new models coming soon, Elkann confirmed that in Melfi it is already DS N°8 in production and the lines for the new Jeep Compass and the Lancia Gamma are being prepared. In Cassino, in addition to the Maserati Grecale and the current Giulia and Stelvio, the new generations of these latest models will be produced. In Mirafiori, in addition to the electric Fiat 500, tests on the prototypes of the 500 Hybrid will begin in May, with production scheduled for November.
“Over the last twenty years, the domestic market has fallen by 30%, while employment has fallen by 20%. Despite this, Stellantis has defended production and jobs thanks to the export of Italian brands,” added Elkann.
Elkann: “2025 a difficult year, we need more charging stations”
Elkann then spoke in broad terms about two complex situations: the future of Maserati , Gigafactory of Termoli. “We are working to ensure the future of Maserati, which remains linked to Italy and the Motor Valley,” he assured. As for the Gigafactory, the project is currently suspended pending ACC’s decisions, but Stellantis has already started alternatives for the production of internal combustion engines and gearboxes for hybrid cars.
Looking at the future, Elkann warned about the difficulties of the automotive market in Italy, which in the first two months of 2025 recorded a 7% drop. He criticized Europe for “short-term actions” and called for a greater commitment to charging infrastructure. “In Italy there are a third of the charging stations compared to the Netherlands. The pace of installation remains too slow to convince customers to switch to electric,” he said.
Finally, he highlighted the need for a broader approach to energy transition. “Electrification is the most effective means of decarbonization, but to achieve the 2035 climate goals it is essential to exploit the full range of low and zero emission technologies“. On the topic of batteries, Elkann highlighted the gap with China: “Globally there are 263 Gigafactories, of which 214 are in China and only 13 in Europe. Chinese companies dominate the market not only in terms of production, but also in terms of technology, while in Europe we do not control either the extraction or the refining of the critical materials needed”.
Elkann: “The future of the auto industry is not warlike”
In answering some questions posed by parliamentarians on doubts regarding a possible use of automotive expertise in the defense sector, Elkann was clear: “the Stellantis' future is not making weapons, it is not the war industry".
“We observe that China and the United States have a significant war industry and a significant auto industry,” Elkann explained. “We believe that it is not a choice between the auto industry and the war industry, these two countries are showing us that you can have two strong industries. We do not believe that the future of the car is the war industry. The future of the car is linked to the fact that Europe and the European Union decide in terms of industrial policy where it is important to put resources”.
Last update 18,37am
