Stellantis NV announced on Thursday that Michael Orange, who until recently served as vice president of national sales for Hyundai Motor America, will assume the role of head of U.S. sales for Stellantis starting April 22. The company said Orange will succeed Jeff Kommor, who is retiring after more than 40 years with the automaker.
The hire comes as Stellantis seeks to sustain a rebound in deliveries. The automaker reported a 12% increase in global shipments in the first quarter, a gain the company attributed in large part to a surge in Ram pickup deliveries in the United States.
Chief Executive Officer Antonio Filosa emphasized the strategic importance of the U.S. market in a company statement, saying Orange will concentrate on improving retail sales and expanding market share "as we continue building momentum in the US." Filosa has said the company is counting on a U.S. sales rebound to restore the region to profitability this year, even as Stellantis manages overcapacity in Europe and contends with the incursion of Chinese brands that are pressuring margins.
Orange’s background at Hyundai Motor America places him at the center of U.S. retail and fleet channels, and his appointment signals a priority on sustaining retail demand and recovering share. Stellantis’ leadership change in the U.S. follows shifts in the U.S. sales ranking among automakers: according to Cox Automotive, Hyundai overtook Stellantis to become the fourth-largest automaker by U.S. sales in 2023, and Stellantis had fallen to sixth place by 2025.
The company framed the executive change as part of its effort to lock in the recent positive trends in the U.S. market and to address competitive and structural pressures affecting profitability across regions.
Context and implications
- Stellantis is prioritizing U.S. retail performance to help return the region to profitability within the year.
- Management is addressing simultaneous challenges: European overcapacity and margin pressure from Chinese competitors.
- The appointment replaces a long-serving executive, marking a leadership transition in a key market.