MILAN, May 29 (Reuters) - Stellantis' ( STLA ) newly

appointed CEO Antonio Filosa on Thursday picked Europe to kick

off a tour of the automaker's production sites and offices

before formally taking up his new job at the end of next month.

Filosa's decision to begin his visits on the continent

signalled an intention to start building solid relations in

Stellantis' ( STLA ) number two market after North America, having led

the latter since October.

Stellantis ( STLA ), the maker of brands including Jeep, Fiat,

Peugeot, Chrysler and Opel, has seen its European market share

decline over the last two years and also faces regulatory

uncertainty as many expect the European Union could slow the

shift towards auto electrification.

Although Italian by nationality, Filosa, now based in the

United States, has hardly ever worked in Italy or Europe. The

CEO joined Fiat, now part of Stellantis ( STLA ), in 1999, where he held

several roles, predominantly in Latin America.

On Thursday morning Filosa was at the historic Italian

Mirafiori plant, in Turin, Stellantis ( STLA ) said.

A source said he was scheduled to meet local management in

the afternoon in the northern city which is home to Fiat. The

source added that on Wednesday, the day of his official

appointment, Filosa had already been in France, in Paris and at

the Peugeot facility in Sochaux.

Meetings with unions have not been scheduled and he is not

expected to make any official appearances in his new role before

June 23.

Filosa will visit Stellantis' ( STLA ) operations in Spain on Friday

and is expected to be in Germany on Monday, the source said.