In a major step as they move towards the completion of their 50:50 merger as defined in the combination agreement announced on December 18 2019, Groupe PSA (Peugeot) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have announced that the corporate name of the new group will be Stellantis.  

Stellantis is rooted in the Latin verb  ‘stello’ meaning ‘to brighten with stars’. It 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. 

According to the two automakers, Stellantis “will combine the scale of a truly global business with an exceptional breadth and depth of talent, knowhow and resource capable of providing the sustainable mobility solutions for the coming decades. The name’s Latin origins pay tribute to the rich history of its founding companies while the evocation of astronomy captures the true spirit of optimism, energy and renewal driving this industry-changing merger.”

The Stellantis name will be used purely as a corporate brand name, and work is currently underway on a new logo for the brand. The names and logos of the merged group’s various brands, which include Citroen, DS, Peugeot, Vauxhall/Opel, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Lancia, Jeep, Chrysler, Ram and Dodge, will remain unchanged.

However, the proposed merger is currently being investigated by the European Union over concerns that it would give the new company a 34 percent share of the regional market.

What does this mean for the Indian market?
FCA already has a presence in India through the Jeep, Fiat and Maserati brands, while PSA will enter the Indian market with the debut of its Citroen brand next year. It remains to be seen how the corporate proceedings of the merged companies pan out in India, though the car brands are expected to maintain their individual identities.

Jeep is currently working on a facelift for the Compass, in addition to a 7-seat version of the SUV. Citroen India will be launching its first product – the C5 Aircross – next year, followed by a compact SUV with high levels of localisation.

Completion of the PSA-FCA merger project is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2021.

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