September 12, 2026
Antonio Filosa, CEO of Stellantis, says the world is split between the US and 'everywhere else' as Chinese EV partnerships reshape the global auto industry. Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa says the global auto market is split between two distinct areas: the US and "everywhere else”.
The lead executive of the European-American auto giant explains that Stellantis has no choice but to pursue new strategies by region as US trade policy and the regulatory environment rapidly diverge from Europe and other global regions.
“The world is clearly divided into two parts. One is the United States, and the other is everywhere else,” Antonio says.
His remarks underscore the global divide the auto industry faces amid fragmenting political alliances, impacting global trade, supply chains and cost of resources. One of the largest challenges facing Stellantis and its global competitors is how to develop vehicles for the US market, which remains their greatest source of profit. Emissions regulations, safety standards and consumer preferences in the US significantly vary from other regions, making a single strategy for auto firms near-impossible.
Industry tensions between the US and China. In the US market, the company relies on a structure in which design and development are conducted almost exclusively domestically. In other markets, including Europe, Stellantis leverages partnerships with companies like Leapmotor – a Chinese EV startup – and Dongfeng Motor – a state-owned Chinese automaker. By separating development by region, the company aims to address differences across regulatory environments and demand structures. Antonio says the company is not planning to develop US-bound models through these partnerships with Chinese companies. However, other automakers that have struck similar deals have faced criticism from the Trump administration.
Several US officials have condemned Ford Motor’s joint venture with China’s Geely Auto in Europe and have accused the company of helping the expansion of Chinese automakers worldwide. In response, Ford has pushed back, arguing partnerships like these allow the firm to adapt to new global realities and build smarter operating structures. Collaborating with Chinese firms has become a flashpoint where business strategy and national security concerns have collided head-on. Stellantis owns brands with a strong US market presence – such as Jeep and Ram – and its North American operations are the main driver of the firm’s global profits.
The two-tier structure – keeping US-market development domestic while leveraging Chinese EV technology and cost advantages in Europe – highlights the firm’s pragmatic approach to an increasingly fractured relationship between business and political leaders. Establishing a global manufacturing strategy. The auto industry has faced considerable structural upheaval in recent years, from intensifying US-China tensions and supply chain disruption to the accelerating shift to EV technology. As the US focuses on policies that favour domestic production and procurement, Europe has shown signs of exploring collaboration with Chinese partners, resulting in manufacturers differentiating their strategies by global region.
Antonio’s comments highlight how difficult it has become for companies to establish a global strategy. Investors remain uncertain whether Stellantis can sustain the profitability of its US operations and how much its partnerships with Chinese companies will contribute to technological development and cost competitiveness in Europe and the rest of the world. If US trade policy becomes more protective of production in the industry, political pressure on Chinese partnerships could intensify.
Author: Alec McDonnell
Source: https://businesschief.com/news/stellantis-ceo-highlights-split-in-the-global-auto-market
