Ashwani Muppasani is appointed to be COO of Stellantis India & Asia Pacific from Nov 1, 2023

Emanuele Cappellano is appointed Chief Operating Officer of Stellantis South America, and Antonio Filosa is appointed Jeep Brand CEO, Stellantis announced on Friday.

Stellantis, the automotive giant formed in 2021 from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group, has appointed industry veteran Ashwani Muppasani as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Stellantis India & Asia Pacific operations. The appointment is effective November 1, 2023 and marks an important milestone for Stellantis as it aims to grow its presence across India and the Asia Pacific region.

Background on Ashwani Muppasani

Muppasani brings over 26 years of experience working for global automotive brands to his new role at Stellantis. He joins the company from General Motors, where he most recently served as the Managing Director of GM International Operations based in Singapore overseeing markets including Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and South Asia.

Prior to that, Muppasani held various leadership positions at GM India across vehicle manufacturing, global export operations, product development and purchasing. He has an extensive background in operational excellence, network development and business transformation.

Muppasani's Previous Roles at General Motors

Some of Muppasani's key responsibilities during his long tenure at GM included:

• Overseeing manufacturing operations at GM India's Talegaon plant, including production quality, capacity utilization and local supply chain management
• Managing GM's export program from India to markets abroad including Mexico, Central America and the Middle East
• Leading GM India's product engineering operations and collaboration with the company's Technical Centre in Bangalore
• Optimizing procurement operations and developing a local vendor base for GM's manufacturing in India
• Implementing major digital transformation initiatives across GM India's business functions

Through these prior roles, Muppasani gained well-rounded expertise in automobile manufacturing, engineering, supply chain and operations. This diverse experience will serve him well in his new COO position at Stellantis.

Stellantis India & Asia Pacific Operations

Stellantis has an expansive presence spanning vehicle manufacturing, sales, financing and technology centres across India, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea.

Key Stellantis brands in India include Jeep and Citroen. The company currently has two manufacturing plants in the country located in Hosur and Thiruvallur. Stellantis also exports vehicles made in India to several right-hand and left-hand drive markets globally.

In the Asia Pacific region, Stellantis operates 11 vehicle manufacturing plants along with various sales and distribution networks. The company aims to continue expanding its footprint in high-growth Asia Pacific markets under its aggressive Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan.

Muppasani's New Role and Responsibilities as COO

As COO of India & Asia Pacific, Muppasani will report directly to Stellantis' APAC CEO Carl Smiley. He will be responsible for overseeing all operations across the region including:

• Manufacturing - Ensuring world-class production quality, efficiency and output at Stellantis' plants in India and wider APAC.
• Supply Chain - Optimizing procurement, developing robust local vendor networks and managing inbound/outbound logistics.
• Sales & Distribution - Achieving sales targets, expanding distribution networks and boosting brand presence across all key APAC markets.
• Product Development - Strategic collaboration between Stellantis Technical Centres and targeted product offerings for APAC consumers.
• Talent Management - Building a skilled, motivated workforce and implementing a high-performance culture across the region.

Significance of the Appointment for Stellantis' Growth Plans

Muppasani's appointment comes at a crucial time for Stellantis as it looks to capitalize on the high-growth potential of India and the Asia Pacific region. His deep expertise and regional leadership experience will be invaluable as Stellantis aims to:

• Boost its market share in India to 5% by 2030.
• Launch new vehicles engineered specifically for Asian consumer tastes and driving conditions.
• Tap into rising EV demand by launching 10 battery electric vehicles in the region by 2030.
• Expand manufacturing output and supply chain capabilities to meet surging regional demand.
• Leverage free trade agreements to increase exports from India and ASEAN.
• Develop talent and future mobility solutions tailored to diverse APAC markets.

This appointment signals that growth in Asia Pacific is a major priority within Stellantis' aggressive global expansion strategy over the coming decade.

Challenges Facing Muppasani in the New Position

While there are huge opportunities across APAC, Muppasani also faces some major challenges in his new role:

• Intense Competition - Battling established players like Suzuki, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and upstarts like China's BYD and MG Motors for market share.
• Diverse Markets - Catering to the distinct vehicle preferences and consumer demand across India, ASEAN, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Korea.
• Supply Chain Disruptions - Navigating ongoing chip shortages, commodity price volatility and logistical challenges affecting output.
• EV Shift - Steering Stellantis' transition towards electric mobility in markets with limited charging infrastructure.
• Talent Shortages - Tapping India's tech talent while avoiding high attrition rates impacting the auto sector.

Muppasani will need to leverage his considerable operational experience to overcome these hurdles and help Stellantis succeed in Asia Pacific.

Opportunities for Stellantis with Muppasani as COO

On the flipside, there are also some promising opportunities if Muppasani can tap into his expertise across:

• Brand Positioning - Using his deep consumer insight to ensure Stellantis' vehicle brands like Jeep and Citroen resonate in Asia Pacific.
• Distribution Optimization - Streamlining Stellantis' sales networks by eliminating channel conflict and bottlenecks.
• Supply Chain Upgrades - Applying lessons from manufacturing turnarounds to enhance productivity, quality and cost-efficiency.
• EV Leadership - Accelerating electrification by forging partnerships, ramping charging infrastructure and localizing EVs.
• Export Growth - Leveraging India's competitiveness to expand exports and offset risks in individual markets.
• Digital Transformation - Modernizing operations in APAC by tapping India's software talent and tech capabilities.

If Muppasani can effectively harness these opportunities, Stellantis will be well-positioned to turbocharge its growth in the dynamic Asia Pacific region.

What the Appointment Means for the Automotive Industry

At a broader level, Muppasani's appointment highlights the growing strategic importance of Asia Pacific for leading automakers. Key implications include:

• Global automakers will ramp up investments and operations in Asia Pacific to capitalize on the fast-growing middle class and consumer demand.
• India is cementing its position both as a major manufacturing hub and booming end market for vehicles.
• Talent development and retention will be critical to sustain operations and product development across diverse Asian markets.
• Intense competition between established automakers and agile startups will drive more innovative and customized product offerings tailored for regional consumers.
• The shift towards sustainable mobility and EVs will pick up pace across the region over the coming decade.

In summary, this appointment exemplifies how Asia Pacific is emerging as the industry's most dynamic region and central to future global growth plans.

Future Outlook for Stellantis in India & Asia Pacific

Stellantis appears well-poisoned for further expansion under Muppasani's leadership by:

• Launching at least 10 new vehicle models engineered for Indian and Asian consumer preferences by 2025.
• Increasing the localization levels for manufacturing in India and ASEAN to over 90% to optimize costs.
• Growing the annual production capacity in India to over 1 million vehicles in coming years.
• Forging key partnerships to secure battery supply and expand EV charging networks across Asia.
• Leveraging free trade pacts to boost exports of left-hand drive vehicles from India to markets including Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
• Developing Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electric mobility solutions tailored to the unique needs of Asian markets.

With Muppasani at the helm across this high-potential region, Stellantis appears well-poised to shift into an even higher gear across India and the wider Asia Pacific.

Key Takeaways from Muppasani's Appointment as COO

• Muppasani is a seasoned auto executive with over 26 years at GM including top roles in India.
• He will steer Stellantis' operations across manufacturing, supply chain, sales and talent development.
• The appointment signals the strategic importance of India & Asia Pacific to Stellantis' expansion plans.
• Muppasani's expertise will be valuable but he also faces challenges like competition and supply chain risks.
• There are major growth opportunities across brand positioning, EVs, exports and digital transformation.
• His appointment highlights the rising prominence of Asia Pacific for global automakers.
• With Muppasani in charge, Stellantis looks poised for faster growth across this key region.

FAQs

What are Ashwani Muppasani's responsibilities as Stellantis COO for India & Asia Pacific?

Muppasani will oversee all operations including manufacturing, supply chain, sales & distribution, product development, and talent management across India and Asia Pacific. Key responsibilities include boosting output, launching new models, growing market share, and steering the transition to EVs.

What experience does Muppasani bring to Stellantis from his GM career?

Muppasani has over 26 years of experience at GM including leadership roles across vehicle manufacturing, global exports, engineering, supply chain, and business transformation. This diverse expertise in auto operations will aid Stellantis’ expansion plans.

How will Muppasani's appointment impact Stellantis' growth strategy in Asia Pacific?

The appointment signals the strategic importance of Asia Pacific to Stellantis. Muppasani's knowledge of regional consumers and operations will be invaluable as Stellantis aims to grow sales, increase manufacturing, and accelerate electrification in key markets.

What challenges does Muppasani face as he takes over as COO?

Key challenges he faces include tough competition, supply chain disruptions, shifting towards EVs, catering to diverse markets, and tapping India's talent pool. Muppasani will need to leverage his operational experience to help Stellantis succeed across Asia Pacific.

How does Muppasani's appointment reflect trends in the global auto industry?

It highlights the rising prominence of Asia Pacific as automakers ramp up investments in the region's manufacturing and markets. India is also cementing its position as a global auto manufacturing hub and booming new car market under Muppasani's leadership.