In January 2021, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and Groupe PSA merged to form Stellantis. To reflect this development, InfluenceMap’s scoring is based on data aggregated from FCA and Groupe PSA prior to this merger, and combined with metrics derived for Stellantis since January 2021.

Climate Lobbying Overview: Stellantis has mixed engagement with climate legislation in the US, UK and EU in 2021-23. Although the company’s CEO continues to take a negative stance towards the rapid electrification of road transport, Stellantis appears to be engaging increasingly positively on the UK’s ZEV mandate and California’s Advanced Clean Cars II rule in the US, while appearing opposed to zero-emission EU CO2 targets for cars and vans.

Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: According to its 2021 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, published in April 2022, Stellantis appears to support GHG emission reductions in line with a 1.5°C target and 2050 climate neutrality targets in both the US and EU. However, in a December 2021 interview, Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavares, argued that governments should shift the focus of climate policy toward cleaning up the energy sector, suggesting support for increased GHG emission reductions, but not in the autos industry. The company also appears to support government regulation to achieve long-term climate goals in the US and EU, and expressed support for the goals of the Paris Agreement in an August 2021 joint statement.

Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Stellantis appears to have mixed engagement on specific climate policies. In a September 2021 US consultation response, the automaker opposed the EPA’s more stringent GHG standards for vehicles, instead stating support only for mid-range standards with revised flexibilities, such as increased EV multiplier caps. The company also signalled to the Biden administration that it would agree to raise mileage standards to reduce tailpipe emissions, but with trade-offs and at rates lower than those brokered by California, according to a March 2021 Independent media report. While Stellantis previously took legal action to revoke California’s authority to limit tailpipe emissions, a Washington Post article stated that the company, along with other leading automakers, abandoned these legal efforts in 2021. However, Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavares, has also emphasized that stringent CO2 regulations will harm industry profitability at the Financial Times Future of the Car summit in May 2021.

In the EU, Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavares, appeared to oppose the EU's 2035 100% zero-emissions vehicle target, which would effectively phase out the sale of new ICE-powered light-duty vehicles in the EU, in an October 2022 Automotive News Europe article. Previously, Stellantis appeared to take an unclear position on the proposed light-duty vehicle CO2 standards, emphasizing support for a technology-neutral approach in the shift to low-emission vehicles over the electrification of transportation. Aditionally, Stellantis appeared to support an EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) with exceptions that it is implemented gradually, fully assesses "the cumulative impact on competitiveness" and that "taxes do not disproportionately impact domestic production compared to imported vehicles" in its 2021 CSR Report, published in April 2022.

Positioning on Energy Transition: Stellantis appears to have increasingly positive engagement on policies promoting the decarbonization of road transport. In the US, a 2021 joint statement and consultation response indicated that the company supports federal EV purchase incentives and expanded charging infrastructure to accelerate the electrification of road transport. A joint letter signed by the company in June 2022 to US congressional leaders further advocated for a US EV tax credit and for the removal of the credit cap. Furthermore, in a May 2022 consultation response, Stellantis appeared to support California's proposed Advanced Clean Cars II regulation, which would require an increasing percentage of new light-duty EV sales each year until a 100% ZEV mandate in 2035, with minor exceptions, including to extend the ZEV credit allowance for Class 2a PHEVs (e.g. SUVs and pick-up trucks) by two model years to 2030. Stellantis similarly appeared to generally support the Advanced Clean Cars II rule in June 2022 testimony to the California Air Resources Board.

In the UK, according to a September 2021 consultation response found via FOI request, Stellantis appeared to support a UK ZEV mandate with minor exceptions, including linkages to charging infrastructure targets. Additionally, an August 2022 Autocar article reported that a Stellantis senior executive appeared to support specific measures promoting the electrification of road transport in the UK including a taxation system that incentivises electrification. However, Stellantis’ CEO previously criticized the UK decision to phase-out new new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, according to a January 2021 Guardian media report.

Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavares has consistently opposed the complete electrification of transportation in top-line messaging. For example, in an October 2022 Automotive News Europe article, Tavares called for the EU’s proposed 2035 effective light-duty vehicle ICE phase-out to be renegotiated to include a long-term role for hybrid vehicles. In a January 2022 Euractiv media report, the Stellantis CEO further appeared to oppose the EU's ICE phase-out strategy, arguing that "electrification is a technology chosen by politicians, not by industry", emphasizing the social risk created by the "brutality of this change". This echoed similar comments made by Tavares at the FT’s Future of the Car summit in May 2021. In a January 2021 Handesblatt article, Tavares raised concerns over costs to consumers and manufacturers around electrification, while in a December 2021 interview at the Reuters Next conference, he argued that the EV cost burden is “beyond the limits for automakers”, emphasizing potential threats to jobs and industry.

Industry Association Governance: Stellantis has disclosed a list of industry association memberships in its 2021 CSR Report, but with no further details on the type of membership and role within each industry association, their climate policy positions, and how the company attempts to influence these. The company has not published a review of its industry association memberships. Stellantis retains memberships to a number of groups globally known to be oppositional to climate regulation, including the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) (where a subsidiary is a member), Business Europe, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), and Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), where a Stellantis senior executive is President. Stellantis is also a member of the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA), which has negative engagement with heavy-duty vehicle climate policy in the US.

InfluenceMap collects and assesses evidence of corporate climate policy engagement on a weekly basis, depending on the availability of information from each specific data source (for more information see our methodology). While this analysis flows through to the company’s scores each week, the summary above is updated periodically. This summary was last updated in Q1 2023.