Which brings us to today's Auto File...

* Big tasks for Stellantis' ( STLA ) new boss

* China's carmakers argue over price war

* Musk's return to Tesla

A new CEO for Stellantis

After a lengthy six-month search for a new CEO, the world's No.

4 automaker Stellantis ( STLA ) settled on... inside man Antonio Filosa.

While some see Filosa as a natural choice for the role given his

experience as head of North American operations - U.S.

experience is handy when dealing with the dizzying array of

tariff announcements coming out of the Trump administration -

some investors were unimpressed that it took so long to settle

on an obvious candidate who had been a frontrunner from the

outset.

Six months in the auto industry today is a very long time,

especially since Trump's return to office in January.

And the challenges that Stellantis ( STLA ) faces are no less urgent than

when former CEO Carlos Tavares was pushed to resign in

December.

Perhaps the biggest of the challenges facing Filosa is having to

figure out what to do with Stellantis' ( STLA ) sprawling portfolio of 14

brands. Some of those brands may have to go, raising the

prospect of a fight with staff and unions.

If anything, that task is even more urgent than it was six long

months ago when Stellantis' ( STLA ) chairman set out to hire Filosa.

Recommended reading:

* India's carmakers try to block hybrids

* Looming magnet shortage

* Trump: build it all here

China price war frays nerves

Tensions over the long-running EV price war in China finally

broke into the open over the last week.

Chinese automaker shares tumbled last week after Great Wall

Motor chairman Wei Jianjun called the market "unhealthy."

His remarks were echoed by Zhu Huarong, chairman of state-owned

Changan, who said the industry needs to pay more attention to

risks.

The hit to automaker shares was exacerbated by BYD's decision to

offer fresh incentives on over 20 models.

But an executive at BYD, China's No. 1 automaker, slammed Wei

Jianjun's comments, calling them alarmist.

Others, however, are alarmed at the damage they say the fight

for market share is causing.

A group representing Chinese auto dealers has called on

automakers to stop offloading too many cars on dealerships

because it is driving down profitability and forcing dealership

closures.

And China's industry ministry has called on automakers to call a

truce, saying there are "no winners" in a price war.

Investors want Musk to run Tesla

Elon Musk's tumultuous - and a tad controversial - time working

for the Trump administration came to an abrupt end last week,

leaving investors hopeful that he will focus his time on

companies he is still CEO of, including Tesla and SpaceX.

The latest sales news out of Europe shows that Tesla still has a

lot to fix to get back on track, with a fifth consecutive month

of sharp drops in France, Sweden, Spain and other markets.

But there was some hopeful news amid the carnage. Sales in

Norway jumped, thanks to the new Model Y.

Tesla fans have argued that once the revamped car - Europe's

best-selling model in 2023 - arrived that the company's fortunes

would revive.

Deliveries of the new Model Y will begin in a number of European

countries this month, so we will soon know whether it can

overcome Musk's controversies and compete in a market filling up

with new EVs from traditional automakers and new Chinese

rivals.

Xiaomi's ( XIACF ) YU7 arrives

Speaking of Tesla, China's Xiaomi has rolled out its new sports

utility vehicle, the YU7, which is expected to further challenge

Musk's company in the world's largest car market.

The firm best known for smartphones and consumer electronics

launched the YU7 at 13 of its Beijing showrooms and will start

taking orders for the vehicle in July.

Xiaomi ( XIACF ) is keen to repeat the success of its sporty SU7 sedan,

which launched last year and has outsold Tesla's Model 3 on a

monthly basis since December.

Analysts say the YU7 could challenge Tesla's best-selling Model

Y.

But the launch also comes as Xiaomi ( XIACF ), a newcomer in China's

highly-competitive EV market, has seen new EV orders fall after

a series of controversies including a fatal crash and complaints

of false advertising.

Fast Laps

Nissan is offering buyouts to U.S. workers and has suspended

merit-based wage increases worldwide, as it expands cost cuts

amid weak performance in key markets.

Geely is undervaluing Zeekr  with a $2.2 billion take-private

offer, five early investors in the premium electric car unit

have told the Chinese automaker's board, according to sources.

Stellantis brand Alfa Romeo will postpone the launch of the new

version of its Stelvio large SUV until late 2026 amid tepid

demand for electric vehicles, two sources told Reuters.

Porsche  will set up a China research and development centre in

Shanghai in a deal that will see its models equipped with an

infotainment solution tailored for the Chinese market in 2026. 

Ford's  Executive Chair Bill Ford said proposals to eliminate

U.S. production tax credits for making EV batteries using

Chinese technology would threaten the automaker's projected $3

billion investment in a plant in Michigan.

S&P lowered the outlook for its BB+ credit rating on Volvo Cars 

to "negative" from "stable", saying U.S. tariffs and tougher

competition in China were hurting the automaker's growth

prospects.

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(Editing by Mark Potter)