The coming year is expected to be the first of many for a new group created through the imminent merger of Fiat Chrysler and France’s PSA Group. As the process to blend the two automakers continues, the two partners have revealed what their combined operation will be called.
Stellantis.
Via a joint press release, the two automakers revealed the group’s corporate name on Wednesday, detailing the name’s Latin roots in a word meaning “to brighten with stars.”
In this constellation, the big stars are Jeep, Ram, Citroën, and Peugeot, along with a slew of other brands. Those brand names will not change. As for Stellantis, which sounds like an overseas-market Kia model or perhaps a spaceship in an early 1990s TV show, the group’s name will appear in a somewhat futuristic script. The “A” is missing its crossbar.
Fans of long sentences will be pleased to read that Stellantis “draws inspiration from this new and ambitious alignment of storied automotive brands and strong company cultures that in coming together are creating one of the new leaders in the next era of mobility while at the same time preserving all the exceptional value and the values of its constituent parts.”
Take a breath now.
Ahead of the expected completion of the merger in the first quarter of 2021, FCA/PSA (Stellantis) said, “The next step in the process will be the unveiling of a logo that with the name will become the corporate brand identity.”
The merger also needs the approval of both automakers’ shareholders and various regulators before FCA and PSA can embark on their honeymoon. European Union antitrust overseers remain concerned that the two companies might have too much of the commercial van market, but any rulings on that front have yet to materialize.
Once finished, the 50:50, $50 billion merger would create one of the world’s largest automakers (third or fourth, depending on how you measure it), with the combined entities aiming to save more than $4 billion per year through shared platforms, technology, and supply streams, among other efficiencies. PSA CEO Carlos Tavares would lead Stellantis, with FCA Chairman John Elkann remaining in his current role.
The two companies signed a binding agreement in December of last year.
[Image: Matthew Guy/TTAC]
I was going to say that it is better than CarCo LLC or something but not really. How about like “Trifecta” or license “Tri-Force”. Not really feeling the name I am sure they paid millions to some marketing company to come up with it. Its like an anagram or something….
Taints Sell,
La Lens Tits
I suppose we will still see the commercials and dealerships for the brands we know. I think Chrysler still has lots of Semi trucks running around Detroit with the old Cerberus owned Chrysler logos painted over, now this.
I just hope we get some actual “cars” out of this, not more crossovers and trucks.
OK, this made me laugh. Thank you sir.
Three stars under the same belt… Orion Syndicate?
As for the cars, *maybe* Stellantis (ugh) will decide with the abandonment of the segment by GM and Ford, they’ll have the “American” sedan niche to themselves. It looks like PSA has already done the homework for the federalization.
I’m betting that it will get nicknamed “SellAnus” in USA/Canada markets.
Sell Taints is likely the slogan to motivate the sales force.
I wonder how many PSA products will make their way over here wearing Chrysler or Dodge badges.
A new Dodge Nitro based on the C3 Aircross or Cactus?
Peugeot 508-based Sebring?
Dodge Journey successor running on Citroen Spacetourer platform?
It’s interesting to think about…
In my best Verruca Salt voice: “I WANT A 508 WAGON AND I WANT IT NOW!”
“Cactus” is Australian slang for broken down, worn out, tired out, not working any more. In America it would be like trying to sell a Hyundai Broken or a Subaru Titsup.
Considering it would be wearing a Dodge/Chrysler badge, would anyone be surprised once their Cactus went cactus?
Stellar. Sounds like a pharmaceutical product.
…..which competes with Cialis for the ED market….
“…Do not drive Stellantis if you are nursing, pregnant or may become pregnant.”
and inevitably,
“Were you or someone you love injured after being perscribed Stellantis? If so, you may be entitled to compensation…Contact the law firm of Dewey, Cheatem and Howe.”
If a no-start condition lasts for more than three hours consult your physician.
Boyd, Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe.
/click and clack
Its interesting that you mention this. Now, I like the name Stellantis – but there is a big pharmaceutical company named Astellas.
The sum of individual constituents might be worth $50 billion, but if the company consolidates, relentless cost cutting will begin immediately.
Models and/or brands will be dropped, the distributor network will be pared down, older factories will be shuttered.
The end result will be that the actual sum of the parts will be reduced.
I am sure there will be some of that, certainly a push to do so, but it will probably be done primarily through attrition. Unions have this knack for maintaining redundant and unprofitable endeavors. And now with French unions involved, perhaps hostage situations, terrorism threats, etc if any jobs are on the chopping block.
There’s not much overlap in North America, where PSA doesn’t play. The big overlap is in small cars/crossovers in Europe, with Fiat, PSA, and Opel getting “rationalized”. I could see Opel models coming over with Dodge/Chrysler names attached, but there’s still the problem of trade barriers. A trade agreement with the UK is more likely than one with Europe.
No doubt focus group’d to death to find this gem.
The regulators should kill this effort just because of the new name.
“…[D]raws inspiration from this new and ambitious alignment of storied automotive brands and strong company cultures that in coming together are creating one of the new leaders in the next era of mobility while at the same time preserving all the exceptional value and the values of its constituent parts.“
Oh FFS!
As I’ve stated here before, to work in PR and to be able to come up with dreck like that, you need a Master’s degree in bovine excrement!
This one takes the cake! A whole new level of cow dung!
Whom the regulators would kill, they first drive mad with stipulations.
Don’t take Stellantis if your allergic to rapid appreciation. Stellantis should never be combined with alcohol or a pleasant dealer experience. Stellantis may not be right for you if your credit score is above 650. Pregnant women should not take Stellantis.
Hilarious!
So a collection of stars that will eventually sink like Atlantis?
When six of the former Nakajima aircraft companies (broken up earlier through the US occupation) merged together as an automaker, they came up with “Subaru” after the constellation Pleiades.
Same concept, but why does this one sound so much worse?
It’s like they started at the right place, and then had million managers put in their two cents until it became a meaningless, sterile, made-up nonsense.
Atlantis?
More like “Titanic!”
Stellantis is what you end up with when you get your marketing team around a table to brainstorm.
Can we finally see the Chrysler and Fiat brands put out to pasture? Can we see Maserati sold? Can we finally see a new platform for the poor Challenger and Charger? Maybe dare I say an EV or something?
Way back when, Cities Service used a computer to come up with Citgo. Esso took a perfectly good name and a computer turned it into Exxon. Why can’t the French and Italians screw up their name with computers like normal companies?
Here in Texas they were Enco stations before they became Exxon. And before that, Humble (as in Humble, Texas, north of Houston). Pronounced “UM-bull”.
Coming soon to a theater near you: An FCAcar named Desire. “Stellantis, Stellantis…”
So many “Seinfeld” references could be paraphrased for that name…!!
Note that this new automotive entity has so far done pretty much everything it said it would do, pretty much on schedule, in the midst of some rather unusual global circumstances.
How many billions did they pay some market research firm to come up with this name? The same billions they’re gonna have to cut by laying off craptons of people worldwide.
I’m sure they didn’t pay billions. To funny.
Stellantis sounds like an affliction. However, more creative than New GM.
Affliction… Doctor to patient, “Grab your ankles and cough”.
Which is about as good as New Coke.
Stellantis sounds like an affliction. However, more creative than New GM.
Why would GM change it’s name?
Stellantis sounds like an affliction. However, more creative than New GM.
“Stellantis sounds like an affliction.”
True words were never written about FCA. Poor quality is an affliction upon those who buy FCA products. Change the name but same poor quality.
Ok, time to get past the “poor quality” garbage. Their vehicles are just as good as any other automaker. So ridiculous. This is coming from a long time customer. Good lord.
I have only had two major issues with any Mopar I have owned. One was a 1985 5th Avenue the stupid 904LA transmission at 110k miles and one was a rod knock in a 2008 Stratus with the 2.7l motor at 167k miles. Our 2000 Durango is just shy of 200k miles. No major issues but the alternator, starter, A/C compressor and gas tank straps have all been replaced.
Our Pacifica is smooth, quiet and comfortable and our Avenger is pushing 90k miles with no issues other than a brake module replaced at no charge at 48k miles.
There are some lemons out there, but every manufacturer makes them. I could tell you horror stories of people that own Ford, GM, Toyota, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
Hey Junior, I just got me one of them new Steel Anus Hellcats….
Are you 12 years old?
You know it’s coming. The Mopar haters will call it “Steel Anus”.
Why not call the new company “Cerberus”? But I dig it: Space Shuttle Stellantis – sounds cool, of course if they are planning to make reusable spacecrafts. Meanwhile Buick cars return to NA but this time as Chryslers.
Walter Chrysler headed Buick and he did a better job than anyone that came after him – when he left Buick he became one of the richest men in America
FCA and PSA: Dumber Together.
I don’t see any PSA products being sold in North American unless they’re very price competitive (cheap).
An Italian company, a French company and the rotting corpse of an American company. I don’t foresee these entities working together effectively.
STELLANTIS is a stupid, meaningless name that sounds like it can cause hair loss and liver damage.
My proposal for the new company’s name: JEEP
Good lord dude relax. It’s just the corporate name. By the way, it’s not a rotting corpse of an American company.
Agreed on all points, except for the ‘rotting corpse’ part.
‘JEEP’ would be ideal, but the Europeans would go nuts. I suspect the goofy name was a consensus to provide international harmony.
IMO, PSA will never land a product on these shores. The Federalization, infrastructure, and support costs are huge, and look even worse in a down market.
You’re all complaining about this name but names like Kia, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Skoda, Mazda…they’re all fine. You people I swear just want to b***h and moan. It’s just a name of the corporation for crying out loud.
Asti Spumanti Stellanti’s for everyone!
Once again, the name ACME is bypassed. The name they chose just means Atlantic Star. I wonder why they didn’t just go with that.