CARLOS TAVARES

CEO PSA and CEO-ELECT PSA-FCA

Merging with Fiat-Chrysler, eh? Isn’t 12 brands too many?

Ask the VW Group. I’m excited about cars and our brands. Allhave a long history. Isee a wide brand portfolio as a way to cover the market efficiently.

But Fiat is really struggling in Europe, compared with the US...

Any car company in the world has some stronger points than others. We [PSA] have weak points outside Europe. By combining, we’llleverage the strengths and see what we can do about the weaknesses.

Can you be more specific?

Answers to product questions willbe near the dealclosing – up to that point we’re focused on the huge amount of legalwork. We have a synergy plan to save €3.7bn a year without closing any factories [this was pre-coronavirus]. Many other plans and ideas keep popping up among our people. It’s extremely rewarding.

OK, back to PSA. How many 208s will be electric?

I’m not good at predictions. That’s why we have multi-energy platforms. Progress of EVs is real, but slow. For the PHEVs we have, the mix is about 10 per cent. We met our 93g/km fleet objective for January and February. Our people understand the ethics of PSA. When their teenagers ask them why they are working for a car company, they know we’re consistent with the 2°C globalclimate target. We’re audited by third parties and tough on ourselves.