Stellantis UK has held its annual conference at Manchester Central Convention Centre with 1,000 retailer guests and employees coming together over three days to hear plans for each of the group’s nine vehicle brands.
Updates were also given regarding the wider organisation with focused sessions on Leasys (Leasing), Distrigo (parts distribution) and Stellantis Financial Services.
The conference also marked the official UK debut of the all-electric Leapmotor brand, which will begin sales and deliveries across the UK this year via Stellantis retailers.
Damien Dally was confirmed as brand director for Leapmotor in the UK, having most recently held the post of managing director for Fiat & Abarth.
Delegates were treated to a ‘Mini-Motor Show’, with an extensive display of new models. These included vehicles built on the new Stellantis Smartcar platform, such as the new Fiat Grande Panda, Citroën ë-C3 and Vauxhall Frontera.
Other new arrivals included DS No.8, Peugeot E-5008, Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce and Jeep Avenger 4xe.
Eurig Druce, recently appointed to the role of group managing director & senior vice-president for Stellantis UK, said: “After almost 25 years with the company that I started with as a trainee, it was an honour to stand in front of our UK retail partners this week in Manchester as the new UK Group MD to outline how, together, we will drive our performance forward in 2025.
“It was also a great opportunity to thank all our retailer partners and Stellantis colleagues for their exceptional efforts in a very challenging market in 2024, bringing the benefits of electric vehicles to more customers than ever before, and ensuring Stellantis was one of the only OEMs in the UK to comply, through sales alone, with the ZEV Mandate.
“With more than 1,000 guests from over 800 retailers here across three days, participating in over eight conferences and a vehicle display area for our nine brands occupying the entire convention centre hall – the scale and diversity of Stellantis was clear to see.
“With the arrival of Leapmotor to the UK and more than ten new EV models to launch this year, I’m looking forward to touring as many of our UK retailers as possible this year as we work together on the UK’s switch to electric.”
