The Jeep owner topped the list of least-trusted franchises among dealers in Kerrigan Advisors's annual dealer survey, with a whopping 72% of Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram dealers reporting they have 'no trust' in Stellantis. This outcome has revealed a deep-rooted issue in the relationship between Stellantis and its dealers, arising from aggressive cost-cutting measures that many dealers criticized publicly.
CFO Doug Ostermann indicated that rebuilding trust with dealers is a top priority for the incoming management team, highlighting the extent of the damage done and the need for a pivotal strategy moving forward. With the departure of former CEO Carlos Tavares, who faced backlash for 'reckless short-term decision-making', significant structural changes are anticipated to regain dealer confidence.
Dealers expressed optimism after Tavares's exit, with Kevin Farrish, president of the Stellantis dealer body, stating, 'We needed change, so provided the changes are correct - and they are thus far - it shows their commitment to fix things.' This sentiment underscores the hope within the dealer community that new leadership can address historical grievances.
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