Just how big do you want your car company to be? It’s a relevant question, because the Peugeot Group and FCA are finalising their merger – and taking, by the way, the silly made up name Stellantis. As with every mega-merger it’ll mean less biodiversity on Planet Car, because vehicles from different brands get pulled by the same engines and ride on the same platforms and use the same electronics.
We’ll have Peugeot, Fiat, Citroen, Alfa Romeo, Vauxhall, Jeep, DS, Abarth and Maserati springing from the same gene pool. Plus, from the US market perspective, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram. You wouldn’t want them to share too much. Just like there are complaints when VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat knock out cars not easily distinguished. Can you really tell their crossovers…