Stellantis (STLAM.MI) said this week that it faced greater headwinds this year including a 1.5-billion-euro impact from US tariffs for 2025, with operating income in the second half set to be in the low-single digits following a tough first half.

Forecasts for the second half were based on tariff rules effective Tuesday, and the overall 2025 tariff impact included 300 million euros incurred in the first half, the automaker said.

The 1.5-billion-euro ($1.73 billion) tariff impact was at the higher end of a forecast range of 1.0-1.5 billion euros the company provided last week when it released preliminary figures for the first half, which were broadly confirmed on Tuesday.

Stellantis’ other challenges this year include foreign exchange fluctuations, while greater Chinese competition and potential fines linked to EU carbon regulation loom in the background.

Shares fell 2.3 per cent in morning trading, the biggest decliner among blue chip stocks in Milan, after earlier sinking as much as 4.8 per cent.

Analysts at Jefferies said Stellantis’ second-half guidance was vague with scant details, while those at Bernstein said in a note, “The lack of precision undermined the stock.”

Stellantis forecast higher net revenue and improved industrial free cash flow in the second half compared with the first, when it burned cash for 3 billion euros.

“Our new leadership team, while realistic about the challenges, will continue making the tough decisions needed to re-establish profitable growth and significantly improved results,” new CEO Antonio Filosa said in a statement.

The company veteran was appointed in May after former boss Carlos Tavares was ousted in December following a disastrous 2024 performance in the crucial US market.

Filosa, who will reign over a portfolio of 15 brands globally, will have to revamp product ranges and regain market share and investor confidence. He was set to make his first official appearance as CEO in a results call later in the day.

CHALLENGES AHEAD

Stellantis in April withdrew its guidance for a moderate recovery this year after a profit drop in 2024, citing an evolving trade scenario and uncertain impact of US tariffs.

On Sunday, the United States and the European Union struck a framework trade agreement, imposing a 15 per cent US import tariff on most EU goods – half the threatened rate.

Stellantis, however, is mostly exposed to 25 per cent tariffs US President Donald Trump imposed on Mexico and Canada, on top of an existing 2.5 per cent tariff, with more than 40 per cent of the 1.2 million vehicles it sold last year in the US being imports from these two countries.

For the first half, the maker of car brands including Jeep, Fiat, Peugeot and Ram posted a 13 per cent drop in net revenue to 74.3 billion euros, an adjusted operating income margin of 0.7 per cent, and a net loss of 2.3 billion euros.

Net revenue in North America, historically Stellantis’ largest and most profitable market, was just over 28 billion euros in the first half and below Europe’s 29.2 billion euros in the same period.