Fiat has now for more than a century been the pounding heart of Italian engineering and industrial genius. It has given the world wonderful cars, and to me, besides the pre-war Balilla and Topolino, the post-war cars are even more iconic and are absolute milestones in automotive history. Let’s begin with the Fiat 1100 or millecento compact four dour sedan, which is still serving in India as a taxi and has been built there until a few years ago. I absolutely loved the PininFarina styled six cylinder 1800/2100 four door sedans launched in the sixties, and then of course the Seicento and the Cinquecento in ‘57…
About ten years later came the Fiat 124, the 1967 European car of the year, which put the whole east-bloc and Russia on wheels, built in Russian Togliattigrad as the Lada.
Then there was the Fiat 127, putting front wheel drive and excellent performance to the disposal of the masses. Soon then came the Panda, an absolute icon which I photographed in the Galerie de la Reine in Brussels for Keesings Auto Magazine at the time. This car I still find absolutely modern, by the way.
The iconic Panda, born in the 80s, still totally modern and contemporary today…
Now we live in different times, but the Panda is still inspiring many. Therefore only logical that Stellantis put its new Fiat Grande Panda on the new global line-up based on a multi-energy platform. FIAT now starts its transition from local-based production to a global offer through a common global platform. But there is still an Italian DNA left, as it has been styled at the Centro Stile in Turin, and certainly has lots of character as the photos show.
The new Grande Panda…
Olivier Francois, FIAT CEO and Stellantis Global Chief Marketing Officer, summarized it well at the presentation: “Currently we have launched FIAT’s comeback to the global mainstream based on 3 pillars: Italian design and development, global platform and local relevance—and the Grande Panda is the first member of our new global family.”
The Grande Panda will first land in Europe, Middle East, and Africa, and will be available in both electric and hybrid versions.
Proudly presenting the big new Panda: John Elkann, Chairman of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO, and Olivier Francois, FIAT CEO and Stellantis CMO.
Needless to say that we eagerly await to get more acquainted with the Grande Panda soon, both in hybrid and E-versions, which, as we read, will be aggressively priced.
A Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani
But at this anniversary, celebrated on the iconic “Pista 500”, the circular test track on the roof of the famous Lignotto factory building, now converted in a hotel, where the walls of the guestrooms are decorated with mural size photos of details of historic Fiats and a MUST to spend a night when you are in Turin, Fiat stylists and Giorgio Armani designed together an elegant version of the 500e.
The standout exterior design element are the wheels, representing the GA logo on a macro scale. They become the car’s star feature, ensuring it stands out…
We hoe you enjoyed here the photos of the celebration, a very enjoyable event for a brand we always kept very close to our car-loving heart…
Indeed, the Management and PR team of Stellantis Belux, welcomed recently the Press and B2B to a, called ‘House of Innovation’.
A fitting initiative, set up in the absence of the Brussels Motor Shows, keeping the tradition in our country of a traditional show period and at the same time providing a platform for unveiling the latest innovations, concept cars and the future direction of the Stellantis brands.
Needless to say we were very keen to attend this event, giving your servant also the opportunity to have several interviews with the managers of several brands, which we will present soon on our columns. Here in this first report about this “Kickoff Press conference” we will focus on the future strategy of Stellantis and its plans for the Belux market. Just read further!
Hans Knol ten Bensel
The event started with an inspiring introduction by Florian Kraft, CEO of Stellantis Belux…
…followed by interactive brand presentations and workshops. “This event symbolizes our continued pursuit of innovation and progress in the automotive world. We are excited to share our latest developments and our vision for the future with the press and our valued customers and partners,” said Florian Kraft, CEO.
Florian Kraft first pointed out the four core targets of the Stellantis “Dare Forward strategic plan 2030.” This plan will move Stellantis into a sustainable mobility tech company.
The first target is reducing its carbon footprint by 50 % in total CO2 emissions per vehicle compared with 2021, on the path to achieving carbon net zero in 2038. This then includes not only from well to wheel, but also throughout the entire supply chain.
The second target is setting the course for 100% BEV sales in Europe and 50% in the United States in 2030. The third is achieving number one position in customer satisfaction. The fourth is doubling net revenues while transforming our business models and sustaining double-digit operating margins. How Stellantis will achieve this, will be the subject of a future report in our columns. Stay tuned!
Ambitions for 2024…
Looking ahead to 2024, Stellantis Belux has set itself several goals. In terms of network, the company aims to ensure a successful transition to the New Retailer Model using its existing network. Indeed, Stellantis is progressing at full speed in the execution of its Dare Forward 2030 Strategic Plan, with the ambition to be #1 in customer satisfaction in all markets, in products and services. Indeed, the customer experience will be at the core of this retailer model.
Customers will be able to take advantage of a multi-brand and multi-channel approach with a wider range of services. Dealers will have a new and efficient business model aimed at benefitting from Stellantis’ 14-brand portfolio, creating synergies, optimizing distribution costs and offering additional sustainable mobility solutions, says Stellantis. So far for the aims, let’s explain this further in more concrete terms.
In September last year, Stellantis launched the reorganization of its European dealer network, starting with four specific markets before extending it further across Europe in 2024. Stellantis announced it was ending its previous sales and services contracts with European dealers for its 14 brands and moving toward a new distribution framework based on an agency model. What is this agency model?
Under this model, the manufacturer becomes the retailer while the dealer remains the physical touchpoint with the customer. The agent/dealer receives a commission on each sale and no longer individually sets prices or discounts.
As the dealer does not have to purchase the cars from the manufacturers anymore, he does not carry significant commercial risks and has less administrative costs as billing and payment towards the customer is done by the manufacturer. It protects also the profitability of the retailer. Because, as everybody knows, profit margins on new car sales can fluctuate.
With the Lancia Pu+Ra HPE, the Lancia journey towards the future begins, drawing inspiration from the past
The advantage for the car manufacturer is a direct contact with the customer, which it did not have so far….
The manufacturer can now determine end-customer discounts themselves, in this way achieving price consistency and avoiding competition between dealers of the same brand. They can optimize costs through centralization, and profit from the scale effect of transferring responsibilities from individual dealerships to the bigger sales organizations on national levels.
The new Alfa Romeo Stradale: the future is already a pur-sang reality…
It also is more in line with today’s consumer preferences, which would rather see fixed prices and an equally simple buying process as they experience in e-commerce.
Stellantis is moving towards this model in big steps now. In September last year, Stellantis announced that the revised retail model will be fully effective from Sept. 4, starting with Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Stellantis is not the only one to prefer this agency sales model. BMW and Mercedes opt for it too…
The BEV line up at Peugeot: towards a leading position in the B and C segment…
Stellantis market position in Belux …
In terms of sales, Stellantis Belux aims to regain the lost market share in 2024 and further strengthen its position. In 2023, Stellantis Belux achieved a global market share of 17.2%, with more than 100,000 units sold. On the LEV (Low Emission Vehicles) market, Stellantis Belux occupies a fourth place with an 11.6% market share. The BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) and the PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) occupy a fourth place with respectively 10.5% and 12.8%.
Stellantis Belgium confirms its strong position with a pole position in the segment A and with not less than six models of Stellantis (Peugeot e-208, Peugeot e-2008, Opel Corsa Electric, Jeep Avenger, Opel Mokka Electric, DS3 E-tense) in the TOP 10 of the segment B (BEV), representative 66% of the part of the segment.
Introducing petrolheads to the joys of E-power: the Abarth 500 E, waiting for the imminent 240 HP 600 E…
Last but not least, Stellantis Belux is the leader in the segment of the LCV (Light Commercial Vehicle) with more than 30% of market share, of which more than 50% is electrified!
In terms of product innovation, Stellantis Belux will continue its electrification, where it currently leads in the A-B segment and LCV, and further expand it to the C segment with models such as the Opel Astra, Peugeot 308 and 3008 and Citroën C4.
As is tradition in January, the Stellantis brands start the year with super attractive “salon conditions” on their range. This applies to both private and professional customers and to electric and ‘thermal’ vehicles.
We made on this event interviews with Pierre Voineau, Managing Director Citroën Belgium & Luxemburg, (see photo here above), Asterio Perez, Managing Director of Fiat, Abarth and Fiat Professional in Belgium and Luxemburg, and last but not least Eric Laforge, Head of Jeep Brand Enlarged Europe.
This will be followed by a special report on the magnificent prototypes which were displayed amongst the 36 cars on this conference.
Dominique Fontignies, PR & Communications Director, highlighted the news we can expect the coming year from Alfa Romeo, Citroën, DS Automobiles, Fiat and Jeep.
Here follows, dear reader, the second part of the interesting press conference held by Stellantis Belux. Dominique Fontignies, PR & Communications Director, highlighted the news we can expect the coming year from Alfa Romeo, Citroën, DS Automobiles, Fiat and Jeep.
Alfa Romeo will launch in the spring and autumn respectively the MHEV and PHEV versions of the beautiful Tonale, Citroën has a strong market position with its C4, also in the EV version, and has not to forget the Ami and the ë-Berlingo in its model range.
The stylish C5 X
The new flagship, the C5 X, will certainly also make its mark the coming year. DS Automobiles will also surprise with a new model in March. It has exceptional products which breathe French “Savoir Faire” and provide a unique customer experience.
DS Automobiles is the CO2 champion among the multi-energy brands, and last but not least has been two-time Formula E world champion.
In 2022-23 it will increase its electrified mix and consolidate its leadership, leveraging on the E-Tense line-up.
In 2024 it will launch only BEV cars, and in Europe it will sell exclusively electrified automobiles.
Fiat is the #1 volume brand of Stellantis, and caught the spotlights this year with its “roof garden” or the “Pista 500” on the top floor of the iconic former Lignotto plant. It is the largest hanging garden in Europe…
It also opened in September the “Casa 500”, a museum dedicated to the Cinquecento, and it is more than a simple car museum. Casa 500 tells the future of the FIAT brand, starting from its roots; ones that are indeed the inspiration for the future. The common thread is the ‘metamorphosis’ of the FIAT 500 across its three generations, a model that has made history in the automotive industry and has always inspired new ways of thinking and living. An icon of our times whose evolution conveys the culture of a country and the history of its city.
Your servant will be very interested to see it, Corona pandemic permitting!
Fiat also entered a multi-year partnership with RED, a charity organization fighting against pandemics. Co-founder of RED is Bono, and he stated: “This partnership with FIAT, Jeep and RAM is a powerful shot in the arm for (RED)’s fight against pandemics and the complacency that fuels them.” He continued:” the New (500)RED they won’t even need petrol to do it. FIAT wants to be as green as they can while they’re going (RED) and that’s a reason to punch the air.” The whole RED range of Fiats will be launched in January next year.
Jeep continued in 2021 its electrification program with the Renegade, Compass, and this year also the Wrangler joined the 4xe range.
(Left to right) All-new 2022 Jeep® Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, 2022 Jeep® Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe and Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe
There will be more electric models in 2022, with MHEV versions of the Renegade and the Compass, and of course a brand new Grand Cherokee 4xe.
In the next report of this press conference, we will tell you more about Opel and Peugeot.
We attended a very interesting presentation by Stellantis Belux CEO Stéphane Lévi, last but not least about Stellantis Belux itself. We start with this topic in this report.
But of course, the future of the Stellantis Group holds many different interesting aspects, and this will be covered in further reports. Just stay tuned!
Hans Knol ten Bensel
The merger between FCA and PSA leading to the birth of the Stellantis group has been very well managed in Belgium, and is now properly settled indeed.
Mr. Lévi explained that it was a very good strategic decision to bring the different brands with their respective departments as soon as possible under one single roof, notably at the premises at the Avenue de Bourget in Brussels. Indeed the implementation of Stellantis Belux in this “Stellantis House” in Evere took merely three months after the merger, which was done in January 2021. The organisation of Stellantis Belux was finalised in July this year. 20 % of the employees working in Stellantis Belux have now taken a new position within this organisation.
“It is important that the staff also feels physically that they belong to one family, and are able to interact and meet on one single work and office space”, stated Mr. Lévi.
“The staff of the several brands immediately started to figure out not why, but concentrated rather on how they would work together”, he concluded.
New working spaces are being finalised at Stellantis House to adapt to the changing working conditions brought about by the Corona pandemic.
Strong market position… and investing in the future.
Stellantis Belux has an enviable market position in Belgium and Luxembourg with a market share of 23,07 %.
The Stellantis Group is further focused on investing in new technologies: the planned total investment in electrification and software will exceed 30 billion € between 2021 and 2025.
Stellantis targets to continue to be 30 % more efficient than the industry. This figure is based on the simple aggregation of capital expenditure and R & D spent by PSA and FCA, as a percentage of industrial revenues; this is then compared to the average of 6 large OEM competitors over the period 2017-2020.
A further EV model offensive in 2022…
EV launches were 11 models in 2021, and this will be not less than 22 models in 2022…
It expects also its LEV mix to grow fast. For Europe, it forecasts the LEV share of total passenger car and LCV sales to rise from 14 to not less than 70 %, for the US market, the corresponding figures would be a rise from 4 % to 40 %.
Earlier this month, actually on December 7, Stellantis announced that it targets about € 20 Billion in Incremental Annual Revenues by 2030 Driven by Software-Enabled Vehicles.
Indeed, it mapped out its software strategy to deploy next-generation tech platforms, building on existing connected vehicle capabilities to transform how customers interact with their vehicles, and to generate approximately €20 billion in incremental annual revenues by 2030.
This transformation will move Stellantis’ vehicles from today’s dedicated electronic architectures to an open software-defined platform that seamlessly integrates with customers’ digital lives. It greatly expands the options customers have to add innovative features and services via regular over-the-air (OTA) updates keeping vehicles fresh, exciting and updated years after they have been built.
We will come in detail back on this in a special report later. In the next report about this press conference we will focus on further presentations on what the different Stellantis brands will have in store for 2022…
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