Stellantis is using the Paris Motor Show to signal a comeback in Europe, a region where its market share and sales have weakened for years. The automaker hopes customers, investors and dealers will take note of that message.
At a gala held on Sunday, ahead of the show’s opening, chief executive Antonio Filosa unveiled six of the nine concept vehicles the company is bringing to Paris. The lineup also includes production models, among them low-cost electric cars designed to rival cheaper offerings from Chinese manufacturers.
Citroen’s 2CV revival leads the affordable EV push
The headline display is Citroen’s reinterpretation of the 2CV, a retro-styled concept that previews a low-cost electric car built in Europe and expected in 2028. Stellantis presents it as the first step in its plans for a new “e-car” category in Europe.
Several international premieres are also planned, including the DS7, the Fiat Grizzly, the Lancia Gamma, the Opel Corsa GSE, and the B03 and D19 models from Leapmotor, the Chinese partner. Priced at roughly €15,000 ($16,800), e-cars are intended to revive Europe’s shrinking entry-level segment.
Filosa ties the show to a 2030 strategy
Filosa said the event brings the company’s 2030 strategy to life. He credited the efforts of Stellantis teams and the group’s commitment to shaping future mobility through iconic brands, design and technology.
The displays also aim to give each brand a more distinct identity. Shared platforms and technologies across the industry have led to broadly similar designs, and design chief Gilles Vidal said each concept explores new ways to strengthen its brand’s individual character.
Pedro Pacheco, vice president of research at Gartner, called the 2CV probably the most interesting launch from Stellantis. He said it offers an early test of whether European carmakers can build affordable EVs without giving up quality, performance or safety, and predicted it would serve as an early model for the e-car category.
Investors question sales gains and falling shares
The timing matters because the group has kept a low profile for several years. Investors want proof that Filosa’s turnaround is working, after two years of declining market share and profitability in North America and Europe, the group’s two main regions.
In a business plan through 2030, unveiled in May, Filosa pledged to launch dozens of fresh models, cut costs and deepen cooperation with Chinese partners such as Leapmotor. Even so, shares fell to €3.81 this month, their lowest level since the group was formed in 2021.
Bernstein analysts, who downgraded the stock to underperform in August, said the world’s fourth-largest automaker has yet to show that buyers are responding. They argued that recent sales gains were inflated by larger deliveries to dealers restocking inventory, rather than stronger consumer demand.
Felipe Munoz of Car Industry Analysis said Stellantis needs a more competitive electric lineup to keep pace with the rapid expansion of Chinese automakers. He said the company must show it remains in the game, adding that it is still relevant in Europe and must defend its position.
