A tweet has revealed the new name of one of the biggest automakers in the world. When Fiat Chrysler and Groupe PSA merge, they will all be under the Stellantis company name. The name has its roots in Latin where “Stello” means “to brighten with stars”.
The name carries no connection to either company, nor does it have any ties to the deep, rich history both brands have related to the companies that gave their first letters to the Fiat Chrysler and Groupe PSA names.
Fiat is a name that is synonymous with Italian cars. The company was born in Turin in 1899. It’s name is an acronym for the Italian “Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino”, which translates to “Italian Automobiles Factory, Turin”. For decades Fiat was the largest automaker in Europe. Today, it remains the largest carmaker in Italy. In 1910, the company built its first plant in the U.S.
New all-electric Fiat 500 was revealed earlier this year but it might not come to the U.S.
Photo courtesy of FCA US LLCPhoto courtesy of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV
In 2014, Fiat merged with Chrysler forming Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, a company based in the Netherlands.
Chrysler got its start in 1925, taking its company name from founder Walter Chrysler – something commonplace for the time that followed in the steps of Henry Ford, the Dodge brothers, and Charles Nash. The company has spent most of its life as one of the “Big Three” along with Ford and General Motors. In 1998 it was bought by Daimler-Benz, but the company divested itself of Chrysler in 2007 where it was called variations of Chrysler LLC until the Fiat merger.
A vintage Chrysler 300 – the nameplate has been around for over 40 years.
Photo courtesy of FCA US LLCPhoto courtesy of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV
Peugeot’s corporate history starts in 1896 in Sochaux, France when it began making coffee mills and bicycles, which eventually lead to the steam-powered tricycle then, eventually, the internal combustion engine car. In the 1970s, Peugeot took over Citroën and Chrysler Europe. In 2012 GM purchased a seven percent share of Peugeot Citroën (as it was then known) but by 2013 it had sold the stake at a loss.
Groupe PSA has a number of divisions, including those that sell motorcycles and bicycles. You can see a list of the auto brand affected as part of the merger here.
[rebelmouse-image 23405976 photo_credit=”Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images” pin_description=”” dam=”0″ caption=”English motor car manufacturer Charles Stewart Rolls (1877 – 1910) in his first motor car, a 3.75 hp Peugeot motor car imported from France, with a man walking in front with a red flag as the law of the time required.” alt=”Charles Rolls Peugeot” expand=”1″]
English motor car manufacturer Charles Stewart Rolls (1877 – 1910) in his first motor car, a 3.75 hp Peugeot motor car imported from France, with a man walking in front with a red flag as the law of the time required.
Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
You won’t see any Stellantis branded cars on the streets anytime soon. The Stellantis name will be used exclusively at the group level, as a corporate brand, according to a release. Next up, the company plans to reveal its new logo, though they haven’t made public the timetable for the announcement. No brand logos will change as part of the merger.
The Fiat Chrysler-Groupe PSA merger is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2021.
