In Donald Trump’s luggage during his official visit to Arabia-Sadio last Tuesday, Elon Musk, Larry Fink, Mark Zuckerberg but also … John Elkann were.
“He is part of the club,” we get into Stellantis’s entourage.
Since January, contacts between the manufacturer and the US administration have been very frequent. “The dialogue is of quality, there is a great work of mutual education,” it is said.
In Riad, John Elkann was able to spend part of the day along with Donald Trump and his Treasury secretary, Scott Besent. “It was very useful, There was a Lot of Exchange,” Says A Source Close To The Group, Who Adds “John Elkann Has Put At The Top of His Agenda Chatting With All The Stakeholders, It Is The” John Style “. Before Saudi Arabia, The Heir Agnelli Had Already Met Donald Trump Several Times: In Paris, for the reopening cereony of Notre-Dame, and In Washington, for the inauguration.
Victories obtained
Thanks to this nourished dialogue, Stellantis believes that he has already won several victories in commercial negotiations. First, at the end of April, when Donald Trump decided not to overlap taxes. Manufacturers that must already pay 27.5% of customs tasks in the car, will not have to pay the steel and aluminum.
The second victory, expected by Stellantis in the next few days: cars gathered in Mexico and Canada and containing “UU.” Pieces, will only be taxed on their non -American content. The discussion with the Trump administration focused on what was precisely American content.
“A car can be technically composed of 40% of the pieces made in the United States, but it is also necessary to take into account the work of the researchers, etc.”, is explained in the manufacturer’s entourage, “then the vehicle can be considered as 50% American.” Ultimately, for Stellantis, it is the hope of dividing customs tasks into certain vehicles.
A contrast between the United States and Europe
These American victories have another consequence, those of highlighting European slowness.
“John Elkann is affected by the contrast between the United States and Europe,” Stellantis’s entourage said.
In the eyes of heir Agnelli, the Trump administration is clear in its intentions, fast in its decisions, while in Brussels, one moves. In other words, Europe must say what its priorities are!
An analysis that the chief of Stellantis intends to resonate, to the point of making one of its competitors its best ally. In recent weeks, with Luca de Meo, the head of Renault, has multiplied speech. The object of its lobbying: soften regulations in Europe and make the legislation of small cars in particular. A chorus that could soon give way to another small music: the interrogation of the deadline of 2035 and the prohibition of the sale of thermal cars in Europe.
Source: BFM TV
