### Ex-Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares Opens Up About His Departure

Former CEO of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, has broken his silence six months after his abrupt departure from the automaker, which left many industry observers speculating about the reasons behind it. In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg, Tavares clarified that he wasn't fired, but instead left due to differing strategic visions between himself and Chairman John Elkann.

Tavares' career in the automotive industry is a story of remarkable ascent. Starting as a test driving engineer at Renault in 1981, he eventually found himself at the helm of Stellantis, a company formed from the merger of PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in 2021. Despite the disputed nature of his exit, Tavares left Stellantis with an impressive $40 million.

A protege of the notable Carlos Ghosn, Tavares left the Renault-Nissan alliance after a clash over succession plans and later took charge of PSA Group in 2014. He became known for turning around Opel, which PSA acquired from General Motors in 2017. His departure marked the end of an era for the last empire-building CEO in the auto industry.

In the interview, Tavares explained that although he and Elkann had their disagreements, they parted ways amicably. However, the sudden nature of his exit raised eyebrows, especially as Elkann had to step in temporarily with no immediate successor in place. Henri de Castries, quoted in the Stellantis press release, subtly confirmed the internal discord that led to the decision.

Recently, Stellantis appointed Antonio Filosa as the new CEO, a move insiders view as an effort to appease U.S. dealers dissatisfied with the oversupply of Jeep and RAM vehicles. Filosa's elevation underscores Elkann's influence within the company, suggesting a strategic shift aimed at stabilizing the conglomerate's American operations.

Stellantis has struggled since its inception, formed under the shadow of two distinct automotive legacies: the PSA and FCA groups. The company's chaotic state is a far cry from the vision of Sergio Marchionne, the late architect of FCA, whose mission was to maximize value for the Elkann-Agnelli family. Marchionne’s untimely death in 2018 left a leadership void that Tavares temporarily filled.

Whether Stellantis can navigate its current challenges without Tavares at the helm remains to be seen. For now, Tavares seems content with his semi-retired life in Portugal, just as Stellantis grapples with its future amid an unpredictable global automotive landscape.