Stellantis Argentina

Stellantis Argentina S.A.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryAutomotive
Predecessor
  • FCA Argentina
    (1996–2021)
  • Peugeot-Citroen Argentina
    (1998–2021)
Founded2021; 3 years ago (2021)
Headquarters
El Palomar (Peugeot/Citroën)
Ferreyra (Fiat)[1]
,
Area served
Argentina, Brazil [1]
Key people
Antonio Filosa (COO for South America)[2]
ProductsAutomobiles, pickups
Brands
ParentStellantis

Stellantis Argentina S.A. is the Argentine subsidiary of international conglomerate Stellantis which produces and markets Citroën, Fiat, and Peugeot vehicles in the country. Established in 2021,[3][4] the company is successor of several firms that had operated in Argentina as subsidiaries or licensors for these brands, such as Fiat Argentina (then FCA Argentina), and Groupe PSA Argentina.[5]

Stellantis produces its vehicles in the former Sevel Argentina and Fiat Concord factories located in El Palomar, Buenos Aires, and Ferreyra, Córdoba, respectively.[1]

History

Citroën brand in Argentina

French automotive Citroën began to produce vehicles in 1960 with the launching of 3CV, being operative until 1979. In 1998, Sevel Argentina sold its share percent to PSA Group, which brought the Peugeot and Citroën brands back to Argentina.

Fiat brand in Argentina

After the dissolution of Sevel, Fiat resumed operations in Argentina in 1996. The company built a new plant in Ferreyra with an investment of USD600 million to produce its new models, the Palio and Siena. The company also took over IVECO operations in the country. Nevertheless, the 2001 economics crisis caused the plant was closed. It would not be resume operations until 2008.[6]

The plant in Ferreyra has been producing the Fiat Cronos since 2018. In 2014, the company was renamed "FCA Argentina" after the Fiat and Chrysler merger.[7] That allowed the Argentine subsidiary to import Chrysler Corporation brands to the Argentine market such as Jeep, Ram, and Alfa Romeo among others.[6]

Peugeot brand in Argentina (1960–2021)

The first Peugeot automobiles were brought to Argentina in 1957 through the establishment of DAPASA (acronym from "Distribuidora Automóviles Peugeot Argentina S.A.") which imported the 403 model. The society was then renamed "IAFA" and began producing the 403 in the new factory in Berazategui, Greater Buenos Aires from 1960 to 1965. During that period, a total of 22,000 units were manufactured.[5]

IAFA launched the 404 model in 1962, which would become a success, being produced until 1980 by IAFA and continued shortly by Sevel Argentina.[8] At the moment of being discontinued, a total of 152,000 units had been produced.[5] In 1960, a new plant in El Palomar, Buenos Aires, was opened to produce Peugeot models, with its first cars being assembled in 1963.[9][10]

The vehicle number 300,000 produced by Peugeot in Argentina was a 504, which was its most successful car

After some irregularities detected in the IAFA's operations, a new company, SAFRAR ("Sociedad Anónima Franco Argentina de Automotores") was created in 1965.[10] The company took over production of Peugeot models, launching the T48 (403 pickup) in 1967. Until 1973, when it was discontinued, 16,000 units were assembled.[5] In 1969, SAFRAR launched the Peugeot 504 which would become not only an emblematic model for the brand but its most successful car for decades.[11] Furthermore, at the moment of being discontinued, it had been the most produced models in the history of Argentine automotive, surpassing other legends like Renault 12 and Ford Falcon.[12] It was produced until 1999 with near 400,000 units assembled. In 1973, the 404 pickup replaced its 403 counterpart, being produced until 1981.[5]

In 1981, SAFRAR and Fiat Concord S.A. agreed to form a joint venture named Sevel Argentina.[13] The merger was in response to law No Nº 21.932 of 1979, ordering the restructuring of the Argentine automotive industry.[14] At first, Sevel resumed production of models previously made by both companies, but shortly afterwards it began to add new models.[1]

That same year Sevel launched the Peugeot 505, which was produced until 1995 with 92,000 units sold including a station wagon version, and the 504 pickup, produced until 1999 after 92,000 units.[5]

After several years without new releases, in 1992, Sevel launched the Peugeot 405, which would be produced until 2001 totalising 51,000 units. The 306 was launched in 1996 and also discontinued in 2001 after 50,000 units produced in 4 and 5-door versions.[5]

The Argentine economic crisis that began in 1994 affected the automotive production among other sectors. After Fiat and Peugeot split in 1995,[15] PSA Group took over production of Peugeot and Citroën vehicles under the name of "Peugeot-Citroën de Argentina".[16] Sevel was eventually liquidated, rescinding its Peugeot licence in March 2000, well into the 1998–2002 Argentine great depression.[17]

The first model under PSA's parenthood was the Partner, a panel van rebadged from the Citroën Berlingo, in 1998. Peugeot expanded its range of models with the 206 and its successor, the 207 (designed by Argentine and Brazilian engineers)[18] with almost 500,000 units producing for both until 2016. The 307 was produced from 2004 to 2011 for a total of 183,000 units. It was replaced by the 408 in 2010.[5]

In 2012, PSA launched the 308, another C-segment automobile, which had a similar platform than the discontinued 307.[19]

Stellantis Argentina (2021–present)

President of Argentina Alberto A. Fernández during a visit to the Stellantis plant in El Palomar, October 2021

When Stellantis took over Argentine subsidiaries' operations, the company announced that some models would be discontinued, those were Peugeots 308 and 408 and Citroën C4, manufactured in the El Palomar plant that had belonged to Sevel (since 1981) and previously to SAFRAR.[10] Those changes were in order to focus on the production of the 208.[20]

In 2021, Stellantis was the lead manufacturer in South America with a 30% share, with a sales growth of 48% compared with 2020. The company also published a list of most selling cars in the region, where Fiat Cronos was the most successful model in Argentina.[1] Stellantis also stated that the company expect to release 16 new models between 2022 and 2025. That will include 28 restylings and 7 electric and hybrid cars.[21] In 2022, Stellantis stated that 70% of its production was exported to other markets, mainly Brazil.[1]

Current models produced

As of July 2022:[1]

Previous manufacturer Marque Name Type Orig. Released Image
PSA Groupe Argentina Citroën [n2 1] Berlingo Panel van  FRA 1998
PSA Groupe Argentina Peugeot [n2 1] Partner
FCA Argentina Fiat Cronos Subcompact  BRA 2018 [22]
PSA Groupe Argentina Peugeot 208 B-segment  FRA 2020 [23]
Notes
  1. ^ a b Rebadged model.

Past models produced

Citroën past models (1998–2021)

List of Citroën vehicles produced by PSA in Argentina until Stellantis was established:

Manufacturer Name Type Orig. Produced Image
PSA Argentina C4 Compact crossover  FRA 2007–21

Fiat past models (1996–2021)

List of vehicles produced by Fiat Auto Argentina until Stellantis was established:[6]

Manufacturer Name Type Orig. Produced Image
Fiat Argentina Siena Subcompact  ITA 1997–2002, 2007–16
Fiat Argentina Palio B-segment  ITA 1997–2002, 2008–16

Peugeot past models (1960–2021)

List of vehicles produced by Peugeot in Argentina since 1960 to 2021 when Stellantis was established:[5]

Manufacturer Name Type Orig. Produced Image
IAFA 403 Sedan /
Pickup [n 1]
 FRA 1960–65
IAFA 404 Sedan /
Pickup [n 2]
 FRA 1962–65
SAFRAR 1965–80
SAFRAR 504 Sedan /
Pickup [n 3]
 FRA 1969–80
Sevel 1980–99
Sevel 505 D-segment /
Station wagon [n 4]
 FRA 1981–95
Sevel 405 D-segment  FRA 1992–99
PSA 306 C-segment  FRA 1995–99
PSA 206 B-segment  FRA 1999–2008
PSA 307 C-segment  FRA 2004–11
PSA 207 B-segment  FRA 2008–16
PSA 408 C-segment  FRA 2010–21
PSA 308 C-segment  FRA 2012–21
Notes
  1. ^ Produced 1965–73.
  2. ^ Produced 1973–81.
  3. ^ Produced 1981–99.
  4. ^ Named "Break".

Imported models

Models from the brand's country of origin, except where it indicates:

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Stellantis Argentina festeja su récord productivo on Autoweb, 6 Jun 2022
  2. ^ Antonio Filosa was appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) for South America, Stellantis press release
  3. ^ "Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group rename merged automaker 'Stellantis'". Fox Business. 16 July 2020. Stellantis is rooted in the Latin verb "stello" meaning "to brighten with stars."
  4. ^ El Presidente visitó la automotriz Stellantis on Casa Rosada, 6 Oct 2021
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Todos los Peugeot que se hicieron en la Argentina on Autoweb, 3 Dec 2019
  6. ^ a b c Así fueron los 100 años de FIAT en Argentina by Hernando Calaza on Autocosmos, 23/5/2019
  7. ^ "Fiat S.p.A." (PDF). 8 January 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 August 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  8. ^ Hace 40 años nacía Sevel Argentina on Autoweb, 3 Dec 2020
  9. ^ La fusión de Fiat y Peugueot crea un gigante industrial en la región on Infobae, 19 Dec 2019
  10. ^ a b c Planta Palomar, su historia at Stellantis Argentina
  11. ^ Peugeot 504 un "Señor Auto" on Carburando by Marcelo Mercado, 14 Apr 2020
  12. ^ ¿Habrá otro igual?, Revista Auto Test # 106. August 1999
  13. ^ World Cars 1984. Pelham, NY: L'Editrice dell'Automobile LEA/Herald Books. 1984. p. 408. ISBN 0-910714-16-9.
  14. ^ LEY 21932/79 (Legal Decree) (in Spanish), Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1979-02-01, archived from the original on 2011-08-10{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  15. ^ Bil Katalogen 1998. Stuttgart: Motor Presse International. 1997. pp. 53, 123. 0894-01.
  16. ^ Mauricio Macri: de Sevel y Chery, a la Casa Rosada on Motor1 Argentina
  17. ^ Ale, Ana. La Dinastía. Editorial Planeta, 2001.
  18. ^ Peugeot 207 Compact: lanzamiento internacional on Cars Magazine, 16 Sep 2008
  19. ^ Lanzamiento: Peugeot 308 on Motor1,
  20. ^ Stellantis dejará de fabricar tres modelos de Peugeot y Citroën en Argentina by Carlos Cristófalo, 18 Jun 2021
  21. ^ Stellantis presentó sus resultados 2021: modelos más vendidos en la Argentina y Brasil y próximos lanzamientos by Sol Narosky on Infobae, 5 Mar 2022
  22. ^ Lanzamiento: Fiat Cronos on Motor1, 7 Feb 2018
  23. ^ Peugeot 208: evolución y retrospectiva de un modelo exitoso, 26 Aug 2020
  24. ^ Fiat Strada: Un referente en constante evolución on Automundo, 18 Aug 2020
  25. ^ Lanzamiento: Fiat Tipo on Motor1, 30 Nov 2017