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Stellantis heads into Paris Motor Show with a message it \u200bhopes customers, investors and dealers are ready to hear: after years of sliding market share and weak sales \u200cin Europe, the automaker is back in the fight.<\/strong><\/p>\n At a Sunday gala event ahead of the show\u2019s opening, CEO Antonio Filosa unveiled six of the nine concept cars Stellantis is bringing to Paris alongside a range of production models, including affordable EVs set to compete with low-cost Chinese rivals.<\/p>\n The centrepiece is \u200bCitroen\u2019s revival of the iconic 2CV, a retro-styled concept previewing a European-made low-cost EV expected in 2028 and the first \u200bexample of the group\u2019s plans for Europe\u2019s new \u201ce-car\u201d category.<\/p>\n International premieres will include the DS7, Fiat Grizzly, \u2060Lancia Gamma, Opel Corsa GSE and the B03 and D19 models of Stellantis\u2019 Chinese partner Leapmotor.<\/p>\n \u201cThis event brings our \u2026 2030 strategy \u200bto life,\u201d Filosa said. \u201cIt reflects the extraordinary effort of our teams and our commitment to shaping the future of mobility through iconic brands, \u200bcompelling design and innovative technology.\u201d<\/p>\n The presentations showcase the carmaker\u2019s bid to give brands more distinct identities as the industry\u2019s increasing reliance on shared platforms and technologies leads to broad design uniformity.<\/p>\n \u201cEach concept explores new ways to \u2026 reinforce the unique identity of its brand,\u201d Stellantis design chief Gilles Vidal said.<\/p>\n The 2CV \u200bis probably Stellantis\u2019 \u201cmost interesting launch\u201d, said Pedro Pacheco, vice president of research at Gartner, offering an early test of whether European \u200bautomakers can build affordable EVs without sacrificing quality, performance or safety.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be the first example of what an e-car is going to be,\u201d Pacheco \u200csaid.<\/p>\n With \u2060a price tag of around \u20ac15,000 ($16,800), e-cars are a new category of low-cost EVs aimed at reviving Europe\u2019s shrinking entry-level car market.<\/p>\n The timing of Stellantis\u2019 strong return to a major European auto show after several years of maintaining a low profile is critical.<\/p>\n Investors want evidence that Filosa\u2019s turnaround plan is working after two years of declining market share and profitability in the group\u2019s two key regions, North America \u200band Europe.<\/p>\n In a business plan through 2030 \u200bunveiled in May, Filosa promised \u2060dozens of new models, cost cuts and deeper cooperation with Chinese partners including Leapmotor.<\/p>\n However, investors still need to be convinced that Stellantis is on the path to sustained recovery. Its shares fell to \u20ac3.81 this \u200bmonth, their lowest level since the group\u2019s formation in 2021.<\/p>\n Bernstein analysts, who cut the stock \u200bto \u201cunderperform\u201d in August, said \u2060the world\u2019s fourth-largest automaker had yet to prove its turnaround was winning over buyers. They argued recent sales gains had been padded by higher deliveries to dealers to rebuild inventories rather than stronger consumer demand.<\/p>\n Felipe Munoz of Car Industry Analysis said Stellantis needed a more competitive \u2060lineup of \u200belectric models to counter the rapid expansion of Chinese automakers.<\/p>\n \u201cThey need to \u200bcommunicate they are still in the game,\u201d Munoz said. \u201cStellantis has been struggling \u2026 but they are still relevant in Europe and they need to defend their position.\u201d<\/p>\n ($1 = 0.8928 euros)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n