No change to import arrangements for conjoined French, Italian and US brands.

TWO separate distributor and dealer networks will continue to represent popular French, American and Italian brands regardless these marques have combined under an international cabal.

This news comes as Stellantis, the overlord operation created from the merger of PSA – which creates Peugeot and Citroen cars – and Fiat-Chrysler, which delivers Jeep, RAM, Alfa Romeo, Abarth, Chrysler, Fiat and Fiat Professional (commercials), has announced that it has altered its operational profile in the region.

The newly formed multinational group will come under one umbrella for this part of the world, but apparently not to the point where pre-existing distribution agreements have been affected.

This means the French marques will continue to be represented nationally by Armstrongs New Zealand (aka AutoDistributors NZ) whereas Ateco Group will maintain Fiat-Chrysler brand association, with respective dealer arrangements also unaltered.

However those organisations, having previously reported directly with overseas factories, now have an operational involvement with FCA Australia, which has become the Stellantis Group corporate entity for both countries.

A release from FCA said it has now assumed operational responsibility for the relationship with all former Groupe PSA and FCA general distributor partners across Australasia.

Kevin Flynn, managing director of FCA Australia, a Stellantis Group company, will be responsible for the business operations and performance of all brands in Australia and New Zealand.

The release has stressed there are no changes to the current distributor partnerships and that Ateco and Armstrongs will continue to hold distributor responsibility for their respective brands and the relationships with their dealer networks.

Commenting on the announcement, Billy Hayes, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Regional Operations Stellantis India and Asia Pacific Region said: “With an ongoing focus on strengthening the growth of each of our brands across Australia and New Zealand, we have made the strategic decision to centralise our brand operations in Australia.

“This new structure will ensure the appropriate resources are given to each of our general distributor partners as we support them for the success of our businesses combined.”

This new structure is effective immediately.

There has been no comment from Ateco or AutoDistributors.

In January this year, the European Commission approved the merger of PSA and FCA. The alliance creates the world’s sixth largest automotive conglomerate.

Australia’s Peugeot and Citroen importer is Inchcape.