Stellantis under Antonio Filosa shifts to price cuts in France

Cutting costs and keeping pricing tight to defend margins was one of Stellantis’ defining priorities during Carlos Tavares’ tenure. With Antonio Filosa now taking over from the Portuguese executive as chief executive, the message coming from the group has shifted.

After an especially unsettled year for the group - including a 3.9% decline in the European market, which meant fewer than 1.9 million passenger-car registrations (source: ACEA) - Filosa is changing course, putting sales volume ahead of profit margin.

Price cuts on key Stellantis models in France

In France - one of Stellantis’ most important European markets - the change is already apparent. The FIAT Pandina (formerly the Panda) is now available from €9,900, while the Opel Corsa has had its price reduced by 24%, with pricing starting at €15,900.

“This year, at Stellantis, we decided to be more aggressive commercially. We are reducing prices and repositioning some brands. We made a bet, we need to regain volume,” said Xavier Duchemin, President of Stellantis France.

Why matching French pricing is not feasible in Portugal

In Portugal, reaching those price points is, in principle, impossible because the tax burden is harsher than in France. One of the clearest examples is in the hybrid-vehicle segment: although these vehicles are more efficient and produce lower emissions, they can end up paying 12 times more tax under ISV, driven by the use of higher-displacement engines.

Stellantis’ position in Portugal is described as very different: “the competitiveness of our products has a value and a price that is recognised by customers. Proof of that is not only that Stellantis is the leading group in the national market and Peugeot is the best-selling brand, but also that several models from our brands are customers’ first choice and lead their respective segments,” the group said in a statement to Automotive Reason.

Stellantis wants to regain ground in France

According to Reuters, citing four people close to the process, the new approach is not limited to making models more affordable for the general public. It also includes a stronger focus on fleet sales - such as rental companies, private businesses and public services - a channel traditionally linked to lower margins, but one that can deliver high volumes.

The aim is straightforward: to rebuild market share in Europe and in North America, two regions where the group has lost competitiveness in recent years. In France, for instance, Stellantis sales fell 6.8% in 2025 in a market that declined by 5%. The group’s market share dropped by 0.5 percentage points to 28% (source: the French automotive industry association (PFA)).

Duchemin believes the price reductions should help reverse the direction of travel, particularly given that no meaningful growth is expected for the French market in 2026.