"Having the CEO and Chairman as the Same Person Speeds Up, Rather Than Slows Down"

Before the customary 100 days had passed since Favey took the helm of the lion brand—one of Stellantis's most successful in Europe—the French executive met with the Spanish press to outline his future strategy in the EU market.

Some of the topics he addressed included Peugeot's electrification strategy, Trump's trade war, the threat of Chinese brands, and emission fines, which, despite being calculated over the next three years, still pose a risk of hefty penalties for car manufacturers.

—Brussels has delayed the CO2 fines by two years. How does this affect Peugeot?

—The priority is to continue focusing on electric cars. Although more time has been given, the targets have not changed. We now just need to accelerate the adoption of these technologies, which is why we welcome Spain's implementation of the Moves plan.

—Do plug-in hybrids have a place in the brand's strategy?

—Hybrids are very important, whether they are mild or plug-in. In the coming weeks, we will launch a new generation of these engines in the 3008 and 5008, and I think it's an interesting technology for people who are not ready to make the leap to electric cars.

—Stellantis has had reputation issues with its engines. How is this image being fixed?

—We need to side with our customers. Now, we are going to heavily promote hybrid engines, starting with the 2008, with attractive financing offers. We want to show customers that we are capable of making cutting-edge technology and reliable engines.

—Is Peugeot considering creating an affordable electric vehicle, like VW or Renault?

—We want our range to start with the 208, which has an electric version with a range of 433 kilometers. It is manufactured in Spain and, with government incentives, can be purchased for less than 20,000 euros. There are no plans to go below that.

—There is currently no successor to Carlos Tavares. Does this slow down decision-making?

—We already have a CEO, John Elkann. And, in my experience, having the CEO and Chairman as the same person speeds things up rather than slows them down. When Tavares's successor arrives, they will come with their own ideas, but with Elkann, there is a high probability of continuity in leadership.

—Other brands are betting on 'neo-retro' designs. Why not Peugeot?

—I don't think it suits us. We have worked to modernize designs, and I am interested in using the legacy of the past. For example, last week we announced that we would use the GTi name again for a sporty version of the 208. Recently, I was at our Sochaux museum taking photos of elements I liked. I think after the summer, we can show you what we are working on, which is very exciting.

—Is there a possibility that Chinese brands will take market share from Peugeot?

—Of course. Chinese brands are moving very quickly and are already gaining market share. This is normal; they take it from us as they do from everyone else, and it's part of the competition. The same happened when the Japanese and Koreans arrived, but we can be proud that a brand like Peugeot has been making cars for 125 years, regardless of who the rival was.

—What do you think of the tariffs imposed by Trump?

—Well, here I am fortunate that we do not sell in the U.S., and we have no intentions of entering that market. We need to see how other countries react. For now, my priority is to regain leadership in France and other potential markets. In Spain, we were in the top position, and I would like to reclaim it. Then, outside Europe, Turkey and South America are two markets where we have a very good position to strengthen.