Carlos Tavares

Carlos Tavares
Born	Carlos Antunes Tavares Dias 14 8, 1958
Birthplace	Lisbon, Portugal
Nationality	Portuguese, French
Occupation	Automotive executive
Title	CEO, Stellantis (2021–2024) Chairman, PSA Group (2014–2021) COO, Renault (2011–2013)
Employer	Stellantis (2021–2024) PSA Group (2014–2021) Renault (2011–2013) Nissan (2009–2011)
Known for	Formation and leadership of Stellantis; turnaround of PSA Group
Education	École Centrale Paris
Children	3

Carlos Antunes Tavares Dias (born 14 August 1958) is a Portuguese-born automotive executive who served as the founding chief executive officer (CEO) of Stellantis, the multinational automotive conglomerate formed through the merger of the PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in January 2021. Tavares led Stellantis until his departure in December 2024, a period during which the company ranked as the world's fourth-largest automaker by sales. Prior to leading Stellantis, Tavares served as chairman of the managing board of PSA Group, where he orchestrated a dramatic financial and operational turnaround that transformed the French automaker from near-bankruptcy into one of Europe's most profitable car companies. Earlier in his career, Tavares held senior positions at Renault and Nissan, rising to the role of chief operating officer (COO) at Renault before departing the company in 2013. Educated at the École Centrale Paris, Tavares built a reputation across the global automotive industry as a cost-conscious operator with a deep personal enthusiasm for motorsport and driving. His career has spanned over three decades at the highest levels of European and global automaking, and he remains a prominent voice on the future direction of the industry.

Early Life

Carlos Antunes Tavares Dias was born on 14 August 1958 in Lisbon, Portugal. He grew up in a milieu that straddled Portuguese and French cultures. Tavares attended the Lycée français Charles-Lepierre, a French-language secondary school in Lisbon, which provided him with fluency in French and laid the groundwork for a career that would be spent largely within France's automotive industry.

From an early age, Tavares developed a strong interest in automobiles and motorsport. This enthusiasm would become a defining personal characteristic throughout his professional life. Tavares has spoken publicly about his love of driving and has participated in amateur motorsport events, including endurance racing. His personal connection to the product — the cars themselves — was frequently cited as a distinguishing feature among global automotive executives, many of whom rise through finance or consulting backgrounds rather than through an affinity for engineering and driving.

Tavares's upbringing in Lisbon and early education at a French lycée positioned him uniquely for a career that would unfold primarily in France but with significant international dimensions, particularly in Japan and the United States. His Portuguese nationality and French linguistic and cultural fluency made him a distinctly cosmopolitan figure in an industry that, despite its global reach, often remains rooted in national corporate cultures.

Education

Tavares completed his secondary education at the Lycée français Charles-Lepierre in Lisbon before moving to France for higher education. He enrolled at the École Centrale Paris (now CentraleSupélec), one of France's most prestigious grandes écoles of engineering. The institution has produced numerous leaders in French industry, and Tavares's training there gave him a strong technical foundation in engineering that would inform his approach to automotive management throughout his career.

His engineering background set him apart from many peers in the C-suite of global automakers and contributed to a management style that emphasized understanding vehicle platforms, manufacturing processes, and product development costs at a granular level. Colleagues and industry observers have noted that Tavares's technical education was integral to his ability to identify operational inefficiencies and drive cost reductions at the companies he led.

Career

Renault and Nissan (1981–2013)

Tavares began his automotive career at Renault in 1981, shortly after completing his engineering studies. Over the course of nearly three decades, he rose steadily through the ranks of the French automaker, holding a succession of roles in product planning, manufacturing, and general management. His career at Renault coincided with a period of major transformation for the company, including the formation of the Renault–Nissan Alliance in 1999 under the leadership of Carlos Ghosn.

Tavares's ascent within the Renault–Nissan system took him to Japan, where he served in senior positions at Nissan. He was appointed executive vice president of Nissan's Americas operations, overseeing the Japanese automaker's business in the United States and other markets across the Western Hemisphere. This experience gave Tavares deep familiarity with the North American automotive market, knowledge that would prove relevant when he later took charge of Stellantis and its major American brands, including Jeep, Ram, and Dodge.

In May 2011, Renault announced the appointment of Tavares as the company's chief operating officer (COO), effectively making him the second-most-powerful executive at the French automaker, after CEO Carlos Ghosn. In this role, Tavares was responsible for the day-to-day operational management of Renault's global automotive business.

However, Tavares's tenure as COO at Renault came to an abrupt end in 2013. He departed the company following a reported disagreement with Ghosn. According to press reports at the time, Tavares had expressed interest in leading a major automaker as CEO — ambitions that were seen as incompatible with his continued role under Ghosn, who showed no intention of stepping aside. The departure was closely watched across the global automotive industry, as Tavares was considered one of the most capable operational executives in the sector.

PSA Group (2014–2021)

Tavares's departure from Renault proved to be a pivotal career moment. In March 2014, he was appointed chairman of the managing board of PSA Group, the parent company of Peugeot and Citroën, as well as the DS brand. He took the helm at a critical time: PSA was in severe financial distress, having reported significant losses and required a recapitalization involving both the French government and the Chinese automaker Dongfeng Motor.

Tavares implemented a rigorous restructuring plan, known internally as the "Back in the Race" strategy, which focused on reducing costs, rationalizing vehicle platforms, improving pricing discipline, and restoring profitability to the company's brands. Under his leadership, PSA underwent a turnaround that industry analysts described as one of the most dramatic in modern European automotive history. The company moved from near-insolvency to sustained profitability within a few years.

A key element of Tavares's strategy at PSA involved strengthening the DS brand as a stand-alone premium marque, separate from Citroën. This reflected Tavares's broader philosophy of maximizing the value of each brand within a portfolio while maintaining strict cost controls on shared platforms and components.

In 2017, Tavares led PSA's acquisition of Opel and Vauxhall from General Motors, bringing the German and British brands into the PSA fold. The acquisition was considered a significant test of Tavares's turnaround capabilities, as Opel had been unprofitable under GM's ownership for nearly two decades. Tavares applied the same cost-discipline formula to Opel that he had used at Peugeot and Citroën, and the brand returned to profitability within a year — a result that exceeded most analysts' expectations.

Tavares's success at PSA, and particularly the rapid turnaround of Opel, cemented his reputation as one of the foremost operational executives in the global automotive industry. The achievement also provided the credibility and strategic rationale for the next major step in his career: the merger of PSA with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

Stellantis (2021–2024)

In December 2019, PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) announced a planned merger of equals, creating what would become the world's fourth-largest automaker by vehicle sales. The merger was completed on 16 January 2021, and the new entity was named Stellantis. Tavares was appointed as the founding CEO of Stellantis, overseeing a portfolio of 14 automotive brands spanning Europe, North America, and other global markets. The brands included Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Opel, Vauxhall, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Lancia, Abarth, Jeep, Ram, Dodge, and Chrysler.

At the time of the merger's completion, Tavares pledged that Stellantis would not abandon any of its brands, stating that each would receive the opportunity to prove its viability within the combined group. The challenge of managing such a large and diverse brand portfolio across different continents, regulatory environments, and consumer preferences was acknowledged as one of the most complex undertakings in automotive history.

Tavares applied many of the same operational principles at Stellantis that had proven effective at PSA: rigorous cost management, platform consolidation, and a brand-by-brand approach to strategy. The company initially reported strong financial results, aided in part by favorable market conditions and tight inventory management in the post-pandemic period.

However, Tavares's tenure at Stellantis also drew criticism and controversy. His compensation packages became a political issue in France, where President Emmanuel Macron and opposition leader Marine Le Pen both described his 2021 pay package as "shocking" in April 2022. The controversy reflected broader public and political debate in France about executive compensation, particularly at companies with significant government stakeholders.

Beyond compensation, Tavares faced mounting operational challenges during his final years at Stellantis. The company confronted difficulties in its North American operations, including inventory management issues and declining market share for some of its key brands. By late 2024, tensions between Tavares and the Stellantis board of directors had escalated. In December 2024, Tavares departed as CEO. The company's board, chaired by John Elkann, established an interim executive committee to oversee operations while a search for a permanent successor was conducted. Antonio Filosa was subsequently named as the new CEO.

Post-Stellantis Commentary (2025)

Following his departure from Stellantis, Tavares remained an active commentator on the automotive industry. In October 2025, he published a book in which he offered assessments of Stellantis's future and broader industry trends.

In interviews surrounding the book's release, Tavares suggested that Stellantis could potentially break apart, with its French, Italian, and American operations separating if the company's various stakeholders could not be aligned around a common strategy. He pointed to rising tensions among the company's diverse stakeholders — including governments, labor unions, and shareholders across multiple countries — as a potential driver of a future breakup.

Tavares also made comments about other industry figures, including a prediction that Elon Musk might eventually leave Tesla and the automotive industry altogether. In a separate interview, he suggested that Tesla itself might not survive in its current form over the next decade. These public statements attracted widespread media attention and commentary.

Other Corporate Roles

In addition to his automotive executive positions, Tavares served on the boards of other major corporations. He was a member of the board of directors of Airbus, the European aerospace company, which announced his appointment in 2016. He also served on the board of TotalEnergies (formerly Total), the French energy company, before departing that position.

Personal Life

Carlos Tavares has three children. He holds both Portuguese and French nationality, reflecting his birth in Lisbon and his decades-long career in France.

Tavares is known for his personal enthusiasm for motorsport and high-performance driving. He has participated in amateur racing events, and colleagues have noted that his love of cars extends well beyond the boardroom. This personal connection to the product has been a recurring theme in profiles and interviews throughout his career.

His management style has been described in the French press as hands-on and demanding, with a strong focus on operational discipline and financial performance. Tavares has been characterized as an executive who immerses himself in the details of vehicle engineering, manufacturing processes, and brand strategy, rather than delegating these areas entirely to subordinates.

Recognition

Tavares's turnaround of PSA Group and the subsequent integration of Opel were recognized as significant achievements within the automotive industry. His ability to restore profitability to companies and brands that had been in sustained financial decline drew attention from industry publications and analysts.

Automotive News, a leading industry trade publication, profiled Tavares extensively throughout his career, particularly during the PSA turnaround and the formation of Stellantis. The publication characterized his approach as one focused on identifying "the next frontier" of operational improvement and competitive positioning.

His compensation at Stellantis, while controversial in political circles, reflected the scale and complexity of the organization he led. Stellantis under Tavares managed 14 brands across multiple continents, and the company's initial financial results following the 2021 merger were strong.

Tavares's appointment to the board of Airbus further reflected his standing within European industry, as the aerospace company's board seats are reserved for individuals with significant corporate leadership experience.

Legacy

Carlos Tavares's career in the automotive industry spans more than four decades, from his entry at Renault in 1981 to his departure from Stellantis in late 2024. His most enduring contributions to the industry center on two major achievements: the financial turnaround of PSA Group and the creation of Stellantis through the merger of PSA and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

The PSA turnaround, which saw the company move from the brink of collapse to sustained profitability, and the rapid restoration of Opel's financial health following its acquisition from General Motors, demonstrated a model of cost-disciplined management that was studied across the industry. Tavares's approach — emphasizing platform rationalization, strict pricing discipline, and brand differentiation within a shared cost structure — became a template that other automakers examined as they faced their own challenges of scale and efficiency.

The creation of Stellantis represented one of the largest mergers in automotive history, bringing together European and American brands under a single corporate umbrella. Tavares described the rationale for the merger as rooted in the need for scale to manage the industry's transition to electrification and new mobility technologies. His approach to managing the resulting 14-brand portfolio at Stellantis was informed by the same cost-optimization principles he had applied at PSA, though applied to a far larger and more geographically diverse organization.

However, Tavares's legacy at Stellantis is more contested than his record at PSA. His departure in December 2024 came amid declining performance in key markets, and his post-departure public comments suggesting that Stellantis could potentially break apart raised questions about the long-term viability of the merger he had orchestrated. Whether Stellantis endures as a unified entity or eventually fragments along national or regional lines will be a significant factor in how Tavares's career is ultimately assessed by industry historians.

As a Portuguese executive who rose to lead some of France's and Europe's most important industrial companies, Tavares also represents a notable example of cross-border corporate leadership within the European Union's integrated economy.