PSA

Chrysler showrooms could soon close their doors for the final time, as the merger between Fiat Chrysler Group (FCA) and Peugeot Group, dubbed Stellantis, looks to cut costs and streamline its global portfolio. According to publications Associate Press and Automotive News, Chrysler is near the top of the list of brands to face the chopping block under the Stellantis deal, which will operate no fewer than 14 brands once the merger between the companies is completed by January 16, 2021.

Gilles Vidal, the former head of design at Peugeot, is set to join Groupe Renault in November, after a career spent entirely with the PSA Group (Peugeot, Citroen, DS and now Opel). The 48-year-old Frenchman started his career at Citroen in 1996, and served as Peugeot Director of Design between January, 2010 and July, 2020. At Peugeot he styled a wide range of vehicles, including the latest 2008, 208 supermini, 3008, 5008 SUVs, 508 fastback and 508 wagon.

A merger between the Fiat-Chrysler-Jeep brands and Peugeot-Citroen-Opel group may be under threat after the two conglomerates allegedly failed to respond to concerns from the European Union, according to a report from the Financial Times. The European Union's executive arm, the European Commission (EC), has launched a four-month antitrust investigation into the proposed merger of the two carmakers after they failed to meet a deadline last week to address initial concerns put forward by the EC.

German brand Opel is surging ahead with its 'Charge!' electrification strategy, promising a total of eight electrified vehicles "in important volume segments" by 2021. "We will electrify our entire product portfolio by 2024. Further models will follow very soon after we made the start with the Corsa-e and the Grandland X Hybrid4 this year," said Michael Lohscheller, CEO for Opel and Vauxhall.

Peugeot Citroen Australia has issued a recall for the Citroen Dispatch and Peugeot Expert vans over concerns the middle seatbelt could be faulty. The French automotive group reports: "The front central passenger seat belt could unclip from the buckle when braking or avoiding obstacles". "If the front central passenger buckle unclips, the seat belt would not secure the passenger in the event of sudden braking or an accident, and there is a risk of serious injury."