Stellantis CEO apologizes for 1.2L PureTech engine failures

Antonio Filosa, the new CEO of Stellantis, has issued a formal apology to customers affected by long-standing reliability issues with the 1.2L PureTech engine. The engine, which has been used in various Peugeot, Citroën, Opel, and DS models, has faced significant criticism due to a faulty ‘wet’ timing belt that can deteriorate prematurely, potentially leading to total engine failure and high repair costs.

This apology marks a strategic shift for the automotive group, moving away from the previous leadership's strict focus on cost containment toward a priority on vehicle reliability. To address these quality concerns, Filosa announced the establishment of approximately one hundred ‘quality war rooms’ across Europe and North America. These specialized teams, consisting of engineers and production managers, are tasked with identifying defects early and adjusting manufacturing processes in real time. The company reports that these measures have already contributed to an internal quality improvement of approximately 30% since the beginning of the year.