Born Italian and an executive at Stellantis long before the company had that name, Antonio Filosa will be the company’s new CEO on June 23. On that day, he’ll officially take the mantle from Carlos Tavares, who resigned from the post in early December.
Filosa will have to lead Stellantis through a crucial phase, both for the group and for the entire auto industry. Many problems will end up on the CEO’s table. One challenge is arguably the most important of all: the complicated transition to being an electric car company.
Target: 2035
Whatever legacy Tavares leaves behind will be a complicated one. But surely, the disagreements over the electric transition led to divisions between the former executive and the rest of the company.
On one side was the then CEO, a staunch supporter of battery-powered mobility. On the other side were managers who blamed unsatisfactory sales and economic results on the electric car.
Antonio Filosa and Carlos Tavares
Photo by: Stellantis
Here, Filosa will now be called upon to deal with the juxtaposition of the group’s environmental and financial sustainability. The groundwork has been laid by European manager Jean-Philippe Imparato and Chairman John Elkan, who in recent months have made clear the company’s new vision:
“Don’t launch more cars, but have the right engines, developing especially hybrids and range extenders,” the Italo-Frenchman’s latest statements at Automotive Dealer Day 2025.
“The real priority—the phrases of the scion of the Agnelli house, in tune with Renault—is to accelerate the turnover, with varied and competitive technologies. The average age of cars in Europe is 12 years, and in some countries like Greece it is as high as 17. To focus only on new zero-emission cars is short-sighted.”
Now, it will be Filosa’s turn to take it forward. But Stellantis will still be up against a planned end to gasoline- and diesel-powered cars in Europe in 2035—even if that plan is currently highly contentious.
Italy at the Center
Part of the work was made official at the end of 2024 in the so-called Italy Plan, wherein the group pledged to maintain the centrality of Italy in its strategies, promising the production of two economic models in Pomigliano d’Arco (Naples) from 2028.
Il ministro Adolfo Urso insieme a Jean-Philippe Imparato al Tavolo Stellantis di dicembre 2024
Photo by: Mimit
La piattaforma STLA Large, una delle quattro architetture multi-energia di Stellantis
They will be born on the STLA Small platform, an architecture capable of accommodating different motorizations, from electrics to thermals, passing through hybrids. The company has affirmed that the future of Stellantis is no longer only 100 percent battery-powered—at least for now.
Gigafactory Woes
But since electric sales will only continue to grow in the interim, another knot for Filosa to untie concerns the battery gigafactory in Termoli, Molise. It was to come into being under the name of ACC (Automotive Cells Company, a joint venture between the group, Mercedes and TotalEnergies.) After the conversion of the current gearbox and thermal engine factory, it will churn out 40 GWh of batteries from 2026.
However, work has been at a standstill since June, and in the meantime, the company has scheduled production of dual-clutch automatic transmissions just for next year. Construction will depend on sales of electric cars, including the success of those made in Italy. But here come the sour notes.
Render della gigafactory di Stellantis a Termoli
Photo by: Stellantis
Il presidente John Elkann
Photo by: Shutterstock
Produzione della Fiat 500e, passata da essere icona del marchio a emblema delle difficoltà del gruppo
Stellantis Chairman John Elkann had explained in Parliament that “energy prices in European car-producing countries are five times higher than those in China.” Following closely behind, Imparato said that “producing cars in Spain costs 516 euros,” while in Italy it is “1,414 euros, between labor costs and energy.” Translation: making EVs in Italy is much easier said than done.
Reducing electricity costs in Italy and in the rest of the continent will be Filosa‘s “key point of action.” Simultaneously, he has to stem the Chinese advance and contain the losses caused by the U.S. tariff war.
What EVs Are Next From Stellantis?
Products will thus be at the center of Stellantis’ strategy. Give some credit to Tavares here, as all were made with an electric-first philosophy in mind. But they will be, for all intents and purposes, multi-energy vehicles that can accommodate several different types of powertrains.
La Opel Mokka GSE Rally anticipa una versione sportiva elettrica del SUV piccolo della Casa tedesca
Photo by: Opel
Alfa Romeo Stelvio (2025), il render di Motor1.com
Photo by: Motor1.com
Looking specifically at what’s next, Alfa Romeo is up first with the new Stelvio, which nonetheless may end up delayed. Then there will be the sporty Opels powered exclusively by electric motors, a strategy that has not been successful on Abarth and that Filosa may change by making room for combustion engines. Moving on to the top of the range, there’s Maserati, which has also dealt with problems leading to the cancellation of the electric MC20 and postponements for the new Quattroporte, Ghibli and Levante.
Consider it a puzzle of models and strategies that must be pieced together the right way in order to breathe new life back into Stellantis. One thing is for sure: Filosa will be busy for a while.
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