Former Holden executive is the new boss of Jeep Australia

US car giant Jeep – and its associated brands Chrysler, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo – has appointed a former Holden and General Motors executive to run its group of automotive companies in Australia.

Michael Filazzola – who worked for Holden and General Motors in Australia and overseas from 1995 to 2019 – will replace Kevin Flynn who is retiring after 47 years in the auto industry.

The new boss arrives at Stellantis Australia – the name of the parent company responsible for automotive brands including Jeep, Chrysler, Fiat and Alfa Romeo – as the company posts serious sales declines amid a sustained series of price rises since the pandemic. 

Although Australian new-car sales grew by 3.0 per cent in 2022 compared to the year prior, Jeep sales were down by 14.2 per cent following price rises of up to $20,000 on some models.

Fiat sales were down by 42.4 per cent over the same period and Chrysler sales were down by 53.5 per cent as the brand effectively exits Australia once remaining stock of its final model, the 300 C sedan, is depleted.

Alfa Romeo sales were down last year by 7.6 per cent.

Other Stellantis brands such as Ram, Peugeot and Citroen are handled by independent distributors in Australia.

Sales of Ram Trucks last year were up by 52.8 per cent and posted a new Australian record.

Stellantis-owned French brand Citroen showed signs of recovery (up 69 per cent) last year, however Peugeot continued to struggle (down 25.6 per cent).

Industry analysts say repeated price rises are not the only cause of the Jeep sales slide in Australia.

Insiders say Jeep sales have hit reverse due to the damage to its reputation after widespread mechanical breakdowns, recalls, and warranty complaints – and the length of time it takes to source parts for routine maintenance.

In a media statement, the company said Mr Flynn "successfully navigated the challenges of a global pandemic while achieving growth for the company in the Australian market" – even though official industry data shows sales hit reverse since he took up the senior role in Australia in 2019.

The company says Mr Flynn is retiring after 47 years in the automotive industry, including working for brands such as Lexus, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and Porsche.

Mr Flynn joined the Jeep group of companies to run its operations in India in 2015, before heading the Australian division in 2019.