Stock Markets January 28, 2026

Stellantis France intensifies 2026 price cuts to restore vehicle volumes

Group’s French arm pushes deeper discounts and brand repositioning as leadership prioritises sales growth over margins

By Avery Klein
Stellantis France intensifies 2026 price cuts to restore vehicle volumes

Stellantis France will step up price reductions on new cars in 2026 to rebuild sales volumes in its largest European market, company officials said, while internal sources indicate the group’s new CEO is prioritising growth in vehicle deliveries over near-term profits. Executives cited targeted discounts on small models and brand repositioning as part of a deliberate commercial push.

Key Points

  • Stellantis France will increase price discounts in early 2026 to rebuild sales volumes in its largest European market.
  • Management is combining price cuts with brand repositioning and focusing on affordable models, with examples including the Opel Corsa, Fiat Pandina and Peugeot 208.
  • Internal sources indicate CEO Antonio Filosa is prioritising vehicle sales growth over short-term profits, including an emphasis on lower-margin fleet sales to regain market share in Europe and North America.

PARIS, Jan 28 - Stellantis said it will accelerate price reductions on new cars sold in France this year as part of a concerted effort to restore sales volumes in the country, its largest European market, the head of Stellantis France said on Wednesday.

"This year, at Stellantis, we have decided to be more aggressive commercially," Xavier Duchemin told reporters. "We have started at the end of 2025 and we are amplifying the movement at the beginning of 2026. We are cutting prices, we are repositioning some brands. We take a bet, we need to get volumes back."

Duchemin cited specific examples of the discounts being applied to small models in the French market. He said the Opel Corsa is now available from 15,900 euros or more, the Fiat Pandina starts at 9,900 euros, and the Peugeot 208 is being offered at a monthly leasing rate of 208 euros.

Four sources familiar with the matter said last month that Antonio Filosa, the company’s recently appointed CEO, is placing higher priority on growing vehicle sales than on protecting margins. Those sources said the strategy includes expanding lower-margin fleet sales and emphasizing more affordable models to win back market share in North America and Europe as part of an effort to reclaim the position as the world’s fourth-largest automaker.

The company is therefore pursuing a two-pronged commercial approach in France: applying deeper price cuts and adjusting brand positioning to attract buyers, while accepting a potential short-term trade-off in profit per unit in hopes of recapturing volume.

Currency conversion cited in discussions placed the dollar-euro relationship at $1 = 0.8346 euros.


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The near-term commercial shift in France reflects a deliberate tactical decision by Stellantis’ local management and, according to internal sources, is aligned with the new CEO’s broader emphasis on regaining sales momentum through affordability and fleet activity.

Risks

  • Erosion of near-term profitability - Prioritising sales growth and expanding lower-margin fleet sales could reduce margins in the automotive sector.
  • Uncertainty over effectiveness of discounts - The outcome of deeper price cuts and brand repositioning is uncertain; the company acknowledges it is taking a bet to restore volumes.
  • Brand positioning challenges - Repositioning some brands carries potential risks for brand perception and long-term pricing power in the car market.

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