Stellantis N.V. (STLA) Confronts Costly EV Challenges and Credit Risks

Core Insights - Stellantis N.V. is currently exploring an exit from its US battery joint venture with Samsung SDI, which was established to produce electric vehicle batteries under the StarPlus Energy venture [1][3] - The decision regarding the exit has not been finalized, and Stellantis may consider selling its stake to a third party, although this process could be costly and time-consuming [3][4] - Credit rating agencies S&P Global and Moody's have downgraded Stellantis's long-term credit ratings to the lowest level that still qualifies as investment grade, citing weaker-than-expected profitability and cash flow forecasts for 2025 as key reasons for the downgrades [4][5][6] Financial Performance - S&P Global lowered Stellantis's long-term issuer credit rating from BBB to BBB- with a negative outlook, while Moody's downgraded it from Baa2 to Baa3 but maintained a stable outlook [5] - The downgrades are attributed to significant losses and write-downs related to electric vehicles, including a multibillion-euro charge associated with revising its EV strategy [6] Company Overview - Stellantis N.V. is a Dutch company formed through the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Groupe PSA, with a diverse portfolio that includes brands such as Jeep, Ram, Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, and Maserati [7]