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News

Xavier Chardon Takes the Helm at DS Automobiles

Xavier Chardon has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of DS Automobiles, adding responsibility for the premium French brand to his existing role as CEO of Citroën. The appointment takes effect September 1, 2026, marking a significant change in Stellantis’ management structure for two of its French automotive brands.

Chardon, 55, brings more than three decades of automotive experience spanning France, Europe and China. His career includes senior leadership positions at both PSA and Volkswagen Group, as well as extensive experience in sales, marketing, communications and brand management.

The appointment comes at an important moment for DS Automobiles, which is introducing the new DS N°7, the first replacement for the brand’s best-selling model since DS Automobiles was established.

Xavier Chardon Adds DS Automobiles to His Citroën Responsibilities

Xavier Chardon became CEO of Citroën on June 2, 2025. From September 1, 2026, he will also serve as CEO of DS Automobiles, reporting to Emanuele Cappellano, Stellantis’ Chief Operating Officer for Enlarged Europe.

The move effectively places Citroën and DS Automobiles under a single management structure while retaining their separate brand identities.

For Stellantis, the arrangement creates an opportunity to share resources and expertise between the two French brands without necessarily blurring the distinction between them. Citroën occupies a more mainstream position within the Stellantis portfolio, while DS Automobiles is positioned as a French premium brand with a strong emphasis on design, craftsmanship and technology.

Chardon says the goal is to use synergies where they make strategic sense while preserving what makes each brand different.

A Career Spanning PSA, Citroën and Volkswagen

Chardon’s automotive career began in 1994 when he joined PSA. A graduate of Institut Commercial de Nancy, he initially worked for Citroën in Italy before moving through a series of positions at the brand’s headquarters in France.

His international management career continued in 2001 when he became responsible for Citroën in Denmark. Three years later, in 2004, he moved to Germany to lead the brand there.

Chardon returned to Citroën’s headquarters in 2007 as Director of Marketing, Press and Public Relations. He held that position until 2009, when he became Managing Director of Citroën France.

He remained in charge of Citroën France until 2011.

His next major career move came in 2012, when Chardon joined Volkswagen AG. He initially served as Vice President of European Sales before assuming responsibility for Marketing and Communications in 2014.

In 2016, he was appointed Vice President of Marketing and Customers for the Volkswagen brand.

Experience in China Added Another Dimension

Chardon’s career subsequently expanded beyond Europe. Between 2017 and 2018, he worked for Volkswagen China, where he led the company’s “Project House Digitalization.”

He then took responsibility as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at SAIC-Volkswagen, one of Volkswagen Group’s major joint ventures in China.

The experience gave Chardon exposure to one of the world’s most competitive and rapidly changing automotive markets, particularly in areas such as digitalization, customer experience, sales and new vehicle technologies.

In 2021, he returned to France and became Chairman of the Management Board of Volkswagen Group France.

That position gave him responsibility for Volkswagen Group’s activities in the French market before his eventual return to the Stellantis organization.

Xavier Chardon Returns to His Citroën Roots

Chardon’s appointment at DS Automobiles carries an additional layer of significance because of his earlier involvement with the brand.

According to Stellantis, Chardon was part of the launch of the first DS 3 more than 15 years ago, when DS was still emerging from its Citroën origins.

DS Automobiles has since evolved into a standalone premium brand, developing its own design language, product range and positioning within the Stellantis portfolio.

Now, Chardon is returning to the brand at a pivotal stage of its development.

In a statement following his appointment, Chardon described DS Automobiles as a brand created around the idea of challenging conventions and expressing a distinctive vision of the French automotive industry.

He also highlighted the importance of the new DS N°7 and the need to strengthen the brand’s desirability, uniqueness and longevity.

DS N°7 Becomes an Early Test for the New CEO

Chardon’s appointment arrives as DS Automobiles launches the DS N°7, making the new model one of his immediate priorities.

The DS N°7 represents the first replacement of the brand’s best-selling model since its creation, giving the vehicle considerable importance for DS’s future product strategy.

For a premium brand operating in an increasingly competitive European market, the success of the DS N°7 could be particularly important.

DS Automobiles is attempting to establish a stronger position against established premium manufacturers while also navigating the industry’s transition toward electrification, increasingly sophisticated digital technology and changing customer expectations.

Chardon’s background in sales, marketing and communications could therefore prove particularly relevant as DS seeks to build greater visibility and desirability around its products.

One Management Structure, Two Distinct French Brands

Putting Citroën and DS Automobiles under the same CEO does not mean the two brands will be merged.

Instead, Stellantis is emphasizing the potential for greater cooperation while maintaining their individual identities.

Citroën has traditionally focused on comfort, practicality, accessibility and distinctive design. DS Automobiles, meanwhile, has pursued a more upscale proposition centered on French luxury, design and craftsmanship.

The challenge for Chardon will be to identify areas where the two organizations can work more efficiently together without weakening the positioning of either brand.

That balance will become increasingly important as Stellantis manages a broad portfolio of brands across Europe.

Xavier Peugeot Moves to Jeep Europe

Chardon succeeds Xavier Peugeot as CEO of DS Automobiles.

Peugeot has been appointed Head of the Jeep brand in Europe, a newly established position reporting directly to Emanuele Cappellano, Stellantis’ COO for Enlarged Europe.

Peugeot will also retain his responsibilities as Stellantis Head of Heritage.

His move to Jeep gives Stellantis another experienced executive in a strategically important area, particularly as the company works to strengthen Jeep’s position in the European market.

A New Chapter for DS Automobiles

For Xavier Chardon, the DS Automobiles appointment represents a return to a brand he helped shape during its early years while also giving him the opportunity to influence its next phase.

His career across Citroën, PSA, Volkswagen and the Chinese automotive market gives him experience in several areas that will be crucial to DS Automobiles: international sales, marketing, digital transformation, customer strategy and brand positioning.

The immediate challenge is clear. DS needs to turn its distinctive French identity into stronger commercial performance while continuing to differentiate itself in an increasingly crowded premium automotive market.

With the DS N°7 now taking center stage, Chardon’s first major task will be to establish the model as a successful successor while building momentum for the wider DS lineup.

At the same time, his dual responsibility for Citroën and DS Automobiles gives Stellantis an opportunity to extract efficiencies between the two brands while keeping their individual identities intact.

As Chardon put it, the objective is to write the next chapter of DS Automobiles while taking its French creativity, design and expertise further.

Xavier Chardon and DS Automobiles: Key Facts

  • New role: CEO of DS Automobiles
  • Effective date: September 1, 2026
  • Existing role: CEO of Citroën
  • Reporting to: Emanuele Cappellano, Stellantis COO, Enlarged Europe
  • Previous DS CEO: Xavier Peugeot
  • New DS priority: Launch and commercial success of the DS N°7
  • Previous employers: PSA/Stellantis and Volkswagen Group
  • International experience: France, Italy, Denmark, Germany and China
  • Career start at PSA: 1994
  • Volkswagen Group: Joined in 2012
  • Chairman of Volkswagen Group France: From 2021

Source: Stellantis

News

Arnaud Belloni Named CEO of FIAT, Abarth and Lancia

FIAT is entering a new chapter under Stellantis with a major leadership change designed to strengthen the Italian brand’s global ambitions. Effective September 1, 2026, Arnaud Belloni has been appointed CEO of FIAT, Abarth and Lancia, while also taking on the role of Chief Marketing Officer for Europe.

The appointment forms part of Stellantis’ broader organizational strategy following the company’s Investor Day on May 21 and its FaSTLAne 2030 strategic plan. Under the new structure, FIAT will play an increasingly important role in Stellantis’ global operations as one of the automaker’s four Global Brands.

Belloni will report to Emanuele Cappellano, Stellantis Chief Operating Officer for Enlarged Europe, and will be responsible for strengthening the connection between brand strategy, product development and marketing across FIAT, Abarth and Lancia.

Arnaud Belloni Returns to Stellantis

Belloni is returning to Stellantis with more than three decades of automotive industry experience and a strong background in global marketing and brand development.

Before his latest appointment, Belloni spent 16 years with Stellantis and its predecessor companies, where he held senior marketing positions involving several Italian and French automotive brands. He subsequently joined Renault Group in 2020, becoming Global Chief Marketing Officer in November of that year.

In May 2023, Belloni expanded his responsibilities at Renault Group by becoming Chief Branding Officer for all of the company’s brands.

His return to Stellantis puts a seasoned marketing executive at the center of the company’s plans to reposition and expand some of its best-known European automotive brands.

“We are delighted to welcome Arnaud back to Stellantis. His global perspective, creative leadership and deep knowledge of our brands will be invaluable assets, as we strengthen marketing across Europe and shape the next chapter for FIAT, Abarth and Lancia,” said Emanuele Cappello, Chief Operating Officer for Enlarged Europe.

Belloni’s experience could prove particularly important as FIAT attempts to balance its traditional strengths in affordable, practical vehicles with Stellantis’ increasingly global product and technology strategy.

FIAT Becomes a More Important Global Brand for Stellantis

The leadership change comes as Stellantis seeks to give FIAT a more prominent position within its global portfolio.

Under the FaSTLAne 2030 strategic plan, FIAT is designated as one of Stellantis’ four Global Brands. The strategy is expected to give the Italian automaker access to new global platforms, technologies and industrial solutions that can be deployed across a wider range of international markets.

For FIAT, that means the future will extend well beyond its traditional European strongholds.

The company is preparing to expand its market coverage with new products intended to meet the needs of customers in increasingly diverse markets. At the same time, Stellantis is looking to preserve the characteristics that have historically defined FIAT: simplicity, accessibility, ingenuity and a strong connection with everyday customers.

That combination will be critical as FIAT competes in an increasingly crowded global automotive market dominated by electrification, SUVs, crossovers and increasingly sophisticated vehicle technology.

FIAT, Abarth and Lancia Get Closer Alignment

Belloni will oversee the strategic direction of FIAT while also leading Abarth and Lancia.

The move is intended to create closer alignment between the three brands at the marketing and strategic levels while allowing each marque to maintain its own identity.

FIAT will continue to focus heavily on accessible mainstream vehicles, while Abarth will retain its performance-oriented character and Lancia will continue its broader premium repositioning.

The organizational structure could allow Stellantis to share technology, platforms and industrial resources between the brands while developing distinct customer propositions.

That approach is particularly relevant as the company expands its use of common vehicle architectures and technologies across multiple brands.

Gaetano Thorel Expands His European Responsibilities

Gaetano Thorel will continue to lead FIAT and Abarth in Enlarged Europe and will now also take responsibility for Lancia.

His new responsibilities will be supported by a functional reporting line to Belloni.

The expanded role is designed to improve coordination between the three brands and strengthen the execution of their commercial strategies throughout the European market.

For Stellantis, the arrangement creates a clearer connection between global brand strategy and regional commercial execution.

While Belloni will focus heavily on strategic direction and marketing, Thorel will continue to play a central role in translating those priorities into the European marketplace.

Olivier François Moves Into a Strategic Advisor Role

The leadership transition also marks the end of another important chapter for Olivier François, one of Stellantis’ most recognizable executives.

After more than 30 years of contributions to Stellantis and its predecessor companies, François will remain involved through mid-October 2026 to help Belloni complete a smooth transition.

François has held an unusually broad range of senior positions during his career. His responsibilities have included CEO roles at Chrysler, FIAT, Abarth, DS Automobiles and Lancia, as well as the position of Global Chief Marketing Officer.

He was also heavily involved in developing some of the automotive industry’s most recognizable advertising campaigns.

Following the transition period, François will remain connected to Stellantis as a Company Strategic Advisor.

In that role, he will contribute to broader strategic issues, including brand and product strategy, allowing Stellantis to retain his experience while giving the company a different leadership structure for its brands.

“On behalf of the entire Stellantis team, I want to thank Olivier for his many years of outstanding contributions and leadership across our brands and marketing organization. We wish him every success in his next career chapter and look forward to continuing to benefit from his experience and expertise as a strategic advisor to our Company,” said Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa.

Grande Panda Leads FIAT’s Product Expansion

The organizational changes come at an important moment for FIAT as the company prepares to expand its product lineup.

The Grande Panda is already playing an important role in FIAT’s product strategy, combining the brand’s traditional focus on practicality and accessibility with a more modern design and technology package.

But the company is not stopping there.

According to the FaSTLAne 2030 strategy, FIAT intends to significantly broaden its market coverage through a new generation of global products.

Among the next important additions will be the Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback, which are expected to strengthen FIAT’s presence in the C-segment.

The C-segment represents one of Europe’s most important automotive categories, particularly as customers increasingly move toward larger crossovers and SUVs.

Expanding into this market could therefore be crucial to FIAT’s efforts to increase its sales volume and improve its competitiveness across Europe and other international markets.

FIAT’s Global Ambitions Are Growing

The new leadership structure reflects a significant shift in how Stellantis views FIAT.

Rather than functioning primarily as a European volume brand, FIAT is being positioned as a global brand capable of using Stellantis’ worldwide industrial scale, technology and platforms.

That could give the company access to markets where it has historically had a smaller presence while also allowing it to develop vehicles designed from the beginning for international customers.

The challenge will be maintaining FIAT’s distinctive identity while expanding its product range.

FIAT has historically succeeded by making cars that are relatively simple, affordable and easy to live with. Its strongest products have often been defined less by technical excess and more by clever packaging, approachable design and everyday usability.

As the brand becomes more global, those characteristics will need to remain central to its identity.

What the New FIAT Leadership Means for Future Cars

Arnaud Belloni’s appointment is significant because modern automotive competition is increasingly about more than the vehicles themselves.

Brand positioning, digital marketing, customer experience and global product consistency are becoming just as important as engines, platforms and technology.

Belloni’s background makes him particularly suited to that challenge.

His responsibilities across FIAT, Abarth and Lancia could also encourage greater cooperation between brands while allowing Stellantis to reduce duplication and take advantage of shared technologies.

For customers, the most visible result should eventually be a broader FIAT lineup, more international products and a stronger presence in important vehicle segments.

The Grande Panda represents one step in that direction, while the upcoming Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback are expected to play an important role in expanding FIAT’s C-segment presence.

A New Chapter for FIAT

FIAT’s new leadership structure takes effect at a pivotal moment for both the brand and Stellantis.

With Arnaud Belloni leading FIAT, Abarth and Lancia, Gaetano Thorel managing their European commercial operations and Olivier François continuing as a strategic advisor, Stellantis is creating a structure designed to connect global brand strategy with regional execution.

More importantly, the changes underline FIAT’s growing importance within Stellantis’ global strategy.

The success of the plan will ultimately depend on the products FIAT brings to market. If the company can combine its traditional values of simplicity, accessibility and ingenuity with modern platforms, electrification and global technology, it could significantly expand its international footprint.

The next phase of FIAT’s transformation will therefore be closely tied to its expanding product portfolio. With the Grande Panda already establishing the direction and the Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback set to strengthen its C-segment presence, FIAT is preparing for a much broader role within Stellantis.

For one of the world’s best-known Italian automotive brands, September 1, 2026, could mark the beginning of a particularly important new era.

Source: Stellantis

News

Fernando Alonso Drives Ultra-Rare Aston Martin Valiant Through Monaco

Fernando Alonso has access to some of the most desirable cars in the world, but even for a two-time Formula 1 world champion, the Aston Martin Valiant is something special. The Spanish driver was recently photographed behind the wheel of the ultra-limited supercar outside the Casino de Monte-Carlo in Monaco, giving enthusiasts another rare glimpse of one of Aston Martin’s most extreme road-legal machines.

Finished in black, Alonso’s Aston Martin Valiant looks every bit as serious as its name suggests. Its round LED daytime running lights, aggressive bodywork, distinctive rear lighting and enormous rear spoiler give it a visual character that separates it dramatically from the Aston Martin Valour on which it is based.

A video shared by TheSupercarBlog on Instagram shows Alonso slowly driving the Valiant away from the famous Monte Carlo casino at night. While Monaco is hardly short of exotic machinery, the sight of a Valiant on public roads remains unusual. Aston Martin is producing only a very limited number of examples, and the entire production run has already been allocated to customers.

Fernando Alonso Has Been Seen Driving the Aston Martin Valiant and Valkyrie

The Valiant isn’t the only Aston Martin attracting attention around Monaco with Alonso behind the wheel. The Formula 1 star has also recently been spotted driving an Aston Martin Valkyrie through the principality.

The two cars, however, represent very different interpretations of Aston Martin performance.

The Valkyrie is an uncompromising hypercar developed with Formula 1-inspired engineering and an extremely low-slung design. The Valiant takes a different approach, combining Aston Martin’s traditional front-engined V12 architecture with an unusually focused chassis, aggressive aerodynamics and one of the rarest features in a modern supercar: a manual transmission.

For driving enthusiasts, that combination may make the Valiant even more interesting than its spectacular appearance suggests.

Aston Martin Valiant Has a 5.2-Liter Twin-Turbo V12

At the heart of the Aston Martin Valiant is a 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine producing 745 horsepower and 753 Nm of torque.

Unlike many modern high-performance cars, the Valiant sends its power to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. There are no paddle shifters and no dual-clutch gearbox to make the process faster or easier.

Instead, Aston Martin deliberately chose a traditional manual transmission to make the driver an integral part of the experience.

That decision is particularly significant in an era when even many of the world’s most exclusive supercars are moving toward electrification, automated gearboxes and increasingly complex hybrid powertrains. The Valiant goes in the opposite direction, embracing mechanical involvement and driver input.

For Alonso, a driver whose career has been defined by controlling some of the most sophisticated racing machines ever built, that philosophy is particularly appropriate.

Fernando Alonso Helped Shape the Aston Martin Valiant

Aston Martin’s relationship with Fernando Alonso goes beyond the conventional role of a Formula 1 driver serving as a brand ambassador.

Alonso was reportedly closely involved in the development of the Valiant, providing feedback that helped influence the car’s character. His Formula 1 experience contributed to decisions surrounding weight reduction, increased performance and the car’s more aggressive track-focused setup.

The result is intended to be considerably more than a cosmetic special edition.

Aston Martin developed the Valiant as one of its most driver-focused road cars, with a philosophy that moves it closer to the company’s track-oriented special projects while retaining the ability to be driven legally on public roads.

That makes Alonso’s appearance in Monaco particularly fitting. Few people are better qualified to demonstrate the character of a car created with such an emphasis on driver involvement.

Aston Martin Valiant vs. Aston Martin Valour

The Aston Martin Valiant is closely related to the Aston Martin Valour, but the two cars have distinctly different personalities.

The Valour was designed as a dramatic celebration of Aston Martin’s heritage, combining retro-inspired styling with modern performance and a manual transmission. The Valiant pushes the same basic formula further toward outright performance.

Its more aggressive aerodynamic package includes a large rear wing, distinctive alloy wheels and unique lighting elements. The bodywork gives the car a much more purposeful appearance, suggesting that it was designed with track driving in mind rather than simply cruising between luxury destinations.

The Valiant therefore occupies an unusual position in Aston Martin’s lineup. It retains the front-mounted V12 layout associated with the brand’s traditional grand tourers, but its character is far more focused.

Valiant Takes a Different Path From the Aston Martin Valhalla

The contrast becomes even more interesting when the Valiant is compared with the Aston Martin Valhalla.

The Valhalla represents Aston Martin’s move toward the next generation of high-performance vehicles, using a mid-mounted hybrid powertrain and technology developed around modern performance requirements.

The Valiant, by comparison, is almost deliberately nostalgic.

It uses a large twin-turbo V12, rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox at a time when the industry is rapidly moving toward electrification. Rather than attempting to hide its mechanical complexity behind software, the Valiant makes the driver responsible for shifting gears and managing the connection between the engine and rear wheels.

That makes it something of a modern automotive time capsule.

One of the Rarest Aston Martins You Can Buy

The rarity of the Aston Martin Valiant is an important part of its appeal.

The car was created in extremely limited numbers, and the production allocation has already been reserved. That means sightings such as Alonso’s appearance in Monaco are likely to remain exceptionally uncommon.

Unlike mainstream performance models, the Valiant is not a car enthusiasts are likely to encounter regularly at automotive events or even at major motor shows. Its limited production ensures that most people will experience it through photographs and videos rather than seeing one in person.

That exclusivity also places the Valiant firmly within Aston Martin’s growing portfolio of bespoke and limited-production performance cars.

Fernando Alonso’s Valiant Is a Snapshot of a Changing Automotive World

There is something particularly fitting about seeing Fernando Alonso manually shifting a V12-powered Aston Martin through the streets of Monaco.

The setting itself is synonymous with Formula 1, luxury and exotic cars. Yet the Valiant represents something that is increasingly disappearing from the performance-car landscape.

A front-mounted V12, rear-wheel drive and a manual gearbox are becoming increasingly difficult to find, particularly in a car capable of producing 745 horsepower.

As supercar manufacturers continue to embrace hybrid technology and full electrification, the Aston Martin Valiant offers a very different interpretation of what an ultra-high-performance road car can be.

It is loud, mechanical, visually dramatic and deliberately demanding to drive.

And with Fernando Alonso behind the wheel, the connection between the car’s racing-inspired character and its real-world purpose becomes even more obvious.

The Aston Martin Valiant may not represent the future of the supercar, but that could be precisely why it is so fascinating. In a rapidly changing automotive industry, cars like this preserve a combination of engine, gearbox and driver interaction that enthusiasts fear may soon become a thing of the past.

For now, at least, Alonso can still be seen enjoying it on the streets of Monaco—one manual V12 gear change at a time.

Source: monaco luxurystyle via Instagram