A few weeks ago, when I heard the name Stellantis, I thought it was some new medical drug for the treatment of acidity or constipation. In my mind, the name also rhymed with Atlantis, a fabled island in the Atlantic Ocean that, according to legend, sank beneath the sea! Anyway, now the world knows that Stellantis is the new auto company formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Groupe PSA, completing a more than two-year effort to form one of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers. According to reports, the merger of FCA and Peugeot creates the world’s fourth-largest automaker with 400,000 employees in 130 countries and 30 manufacturing plants with 14 brands.
According to the company, Stellantis draws on the Latin “stello,” meaning “to brighten with stars”, and surely hopes to be a stellar performer. “We believe that Stellantis needs to be great rather than big,” said Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis. The merger is estimated to save about Euro five billion a year by converging vehicles and powertrains, jointly procuring parts and integrating sales and marketing functions. “You can trust our management in our execution capability,” Tavares said while launching its stock on the New York stock exchange. “We are here to get the job done,” he said.
He also assured the FCA employees that he doesn’t expect any layoffs due to company’s new global scale. But history tells a different story. One auto analyst, Sam Abuelsamid, says mergers end up with fewer jobs somewhere down the line, if not right away. “American jobs are probably less at risk, but I do expect that we will see some job losses in Europe than North America,” said Abuelsamid. To be sure, the auto industry is driving toward an uncertain future, where cars increasingly run off of batteries and software, with the internal combustion engine may be headed for demise. Bloomberg Intelligence service said, “Stellantis faces a mixed outlook as US stimulus plans may buoy Chrysler versus a more uncertain outlook for Peugeot in Europe.
Chrysler’s History
The American Big Three OEMs – GM, Ford, and Chrysler – all have a checkered history, but none as varied as that of Chrysler! GM, due to its dominant size and anti-trust regulations, is not a candidate for merger and acquisition (M&A). Ford, due to its family ownership, is not an easy candidate for M&A also. That leaves Chrysler, the smallest of the three, as a feasible M&A candidate for foreign OEMs, seeking to gain US entry.
Chrysler was founded by Walter Chrysler in 1925, when the Maxwell Motor Company (est. 1904) was re-organised into the Chrysler Corporation. In the 1930s, the company created a formal vehicle parts division under the MoPar brand.
In 1978, under the leadership of Lee Iacocca, Chrysler sold its loss-making European division to Peugeot!
In 1979, the company was on the brink of going out-of-business and was rescued by the US government through $1.5 billion in loan guarantees.
In 1987, it acquired American Motors Corporation (AMC), for much-needed production capacity and the Jeep brand, which has helped Chrysler tremendously.
In 1998 Daimler-Benz and Chrysler formed a 50–50 partnership. Chrysler Corporation then was legally renamed DaimlerChrysler Motors Company LLC. On May 14, 2007, DaimlerChrysler AG sold 80.1 percent of its stake in the Chrysler Group to Cerberus Capital Management, and DaimlerChrysler Corporation became Chrysler Holding LLC.
Towards the end of 2008, amid the great depression, Chrysler announced that they were dangerously low on cash and may not survive past 2009, and announced a plan to file for bankruptcy and permanently shut down all operations. On March 30, 2009, American Government provided an additional USD six billion to support Chrysler, contingent on the company finalising an alliance with Fiat. While the merger negotiations were still going on, Chrysler did file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection at the Federal Bankruptcy Court in New York in April 2009.
On May 24, 2011, Fiat paid back USD 7.6 billion in the US and Canadian Government loans. In July, Fiat bought the Chrysler shares held by the United States Treasury. With the purchase, Chrysler once again became foreign-owned, this time an Italian company, to be known as FCA US LLC. And now, Chrysler again has a new name! How long will it last? (MT)
Lexus India Launches New RX350h Exquisite Grade At INR 8.99 Million
- By MT Bureau
- December 03, 2025
Japanese luxury brand Lexus India has introduced a new ‘Exquisite’ grade to its RX 350h line-up, strengthening the model’s presence in the luxury SUV segment.
The new RX 350h Exquisite grade starts at INR 8.99 million (ex-showroom), which goes up to INR 10.09 million (ex-showroom).
The RX 350h Exquisite grade features Lexus’ hybrid system, which combines a highly efficient 2.5-litre inline 4-cylinder engine and high-output motor. It includes a bipolar nickel-metal hydride battery with enhanced performance. On the inside, it gets 10-way power adjusted front seats, heated and ventilated seating for front & rear seats and ambient lighting.
The RX 500h F-SPORT grade is the only Performance Hybrid Electric Turbocharged Luxury SUV in India. The 2.4 L-T HEV on the RX 500h features a front unit integrating a 2.4-L turbocharged engine, motor, a 6-speed automatic transmission and an eAxle with a built-in high output motor driving the rear wheels. The RX 500h features Dynamic Rear-Wheel Steering and DIRECT4 technology for acceleration.
The RX features a Mark Levinson 21-speaker audio system and offers Lexus Safety System+ with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Cross Traffic Alert and Safe Exit Assist with Blind Spot Monitor.
Between January and November this year, the RX model recorded 12 percent growth, reflecting rising demand for luxury SUVs in the country. During the same period, SUVs contributed about 40 percent to Lexus India’s overall performance, underscoring the RX’s pivotal role in driving the brand’s momentum.
Hikaru Ikeuchi, President, Lexus India, said, ‘The Lexus RX represents our dedication to luxury, design, performance, and sustainable mobility. As the luxury SUV segment continues to grow, the introduction of the new Exquisite grade allows us to offer guests a wider range of options and features to choose from. This enhancement reflects our continued commitment to expanding our portfolio and elevating the Lexus experience in India, supported by advanced technology and a guest-first philosophy.”
MG SELECT Crosses 1,000 Sales And 15 Experience Centres
- By MT Bureau
- December 03, 2025
JSW MG Motor India has announced that its luxury retail channel, MG SELECT, has crossed a triple milestone: reaching 1,000-unit sales, inaugurating its 15th Experience Centre and maintaining the second position in India’s luxury EV market.
The network now encompasses 15 Experience Centres across 14 cities in India, reinforcing the brand's commitment to delivering an exclusive automotive retail journey. The recent inauguration of the 15th store in Jaipur further underscores the brand's ambition to redefine luxury mobility.
The milestone also highlighted sustained market demand for the select portfolio and is a key driver behind the brand’s 32 percent YTD growth in 2025.
The company claimed that the MG Cyberster, India's highest-selling sports car, has a 4–5 month waiting period, and the MG M9 - Presidential Limousine shows strong momentum in the luxury MPV segment. The MG Cyberster is available at an ex-showroom price of INR 7.49 million, while the MG M9 is available at an ex-showroom price of INR 6.99 million.
Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India, said, "Our rise to become the second largest luxury EV brand in the country speaks to a singular belief. True luxury is felt in every touchpoint when precision, ambition and care move together. Through MG SELECT we have crafted an ownership world where innovation meets desire and where every interaction feels intentional. We are shaping the next era of electric mobility for India’s most discerning customers, with a commitment that is both bold and deeply personal.”
The MG SELECT Experience Centres are spaces for the brand's flagship vehicles. These venues provide an immersive, gallery-like setting, ensuring the display of these models is the focal point of the customer interaction. The Jaipur showroom, located at Tonk Road near Sanganer Flyover, exemplifies the MG SELECT philosophy of ‘Reimagining Luxury’, featuring spacious, serene, and technologically advanced environments that elevate the car buying journey.
Maruti Suzuki e Vitara Gets 5-Star Bharat NCAP Safety Rating
- By MT Bureau
- December 02, 2025
Maruti Suzuki India has been awarded a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating for its e Vitara, marking a moment for the company's electric vehicle strategy.
The e Vitara is built on Suzuki’s Heartect-e platform designed for electric vehicles to deliver strength, structural rigidity and advanced high voltage protection. The ‘Made-in-India, Made-for-the-World’ e Vitara is designed and tested for temperature conditions across the world, ensuring performance from as high as 60deg Celsius to as low as -30deg Celsius. The model is offered with 49 kWh and 61 kWh battery options.
Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, said, “Congratulations to Maruti Suzuki for achieving 5-star Bharat NCAP in both adult and child occupant protection for their e Vitara. I am especially glad that Maruti Suzuki has shown real leadership in providing 7 airbags as a standard across all variants of the e Vitara.”
Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “The 5-star Bharat NCAP rating for e Vitara, our first Battery Electric Vehicle, is a moment of immense pride for all of us at Maruti Suzuki. Using the Bharat NCAP 5-star rating, we will export the e Vitara to more than 100 countries of the world. Bharat NCAP’s globally benchmarked stringent vehicle test protocols have been a catalyst in empowering customers to make informed decisions. I thank the Minister Gadkari, the officials in his Ministry and test agencies for their rigorous efforts and commitment in shaping India’s journey towards safe mobility.”
The e VITARA’s body structure uses more than 60 percent ultra-high tensile and high-tensile strength steel. Its battery protection system incorporates a structural design with an energy-absorbing battery pack mounting structure.
Key safety features include 7 standard airbags (including the Driver's knee airbag), Level 2 ADAS (Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control), Hill Hold Control, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and a 360-degree Surround View Camera.
Mahindra Launches First Dealership-Based Ultrafast EV Charger In Anantapur
- By MT Bureau
- December 02, 2025
Mahindra has marked a major milestone in its nationwide electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure expansion with the inauguration of its first dealership-based ultrafast charger – a 180 kW Charge_IN station.
This is the first of many such installations planned across Mahindra dealerships, forming a key pillar of the company’s commitment to building India’s ultrafast charging network.
This initiative scales up Mahindra’s Charge_IN ecosystem, complementing the 250 highway fast-charging stations already announced. The new 180 kW ultrafast chargers will enable EV users to charge quickly and conveniently at strategically located dealerships across the country, with 24x7 on-ground support.
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