There have been a lot of changes at Stellantis in the last few months. The CEO is gone, and the American brands have more freedom in deciding their destiny. That's a lot to handle, but one thing Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and Chrysler likely won't have to worry about is any new competition emerging from inside the Stellantis family.
According to Automotive News, Stellantis Canada CEO Jeff Hines said last week that he doesn't believe the automaker will bring any of its European brands to North America. That doesn't mean our continent is completely walled off from Europe, though. Hines noted that a crossover like the Jeep Avenger "could fit here," serving as an affordable option for consumers.
The news just means we're unlikely to get an Opel or a Peugeot here anytime soon, which isn't that surprising. While Stellantis continues to search for a new boss, the company is attempting to reverse its downturn in North America by lowering the prices of several models. Jeep has worked especially hard to trim prices, slashing the Wagoneer, Grand Cherokee, and Gladiator MSRPs.
The industry's future remains murky, with the threat of tariffs looming and changes to fuel economy standards coming soon. Stellantis is working to repair its relationship with its North American dealers first and foremost, a market that Hines admitted during Automotive News' Canada Congress that former CEO Carlos Tavares did not fully understand. Bringing in more competition wouldn't help anyone.
Source: Automotive News via The Drive
