Who is automotive giant Stellantis and why did it recall nearly 1 million cars?Stellantis, the multinational carmaker behind Jeep, Fiat and Peugeot, is recalling almost 955,000 vehicles worldwide after a software fault left rearview cameras unable to display on some models.The recall is the latest setback for one of the world's biggest carmakers, which is only just emerging from a bruising 2025 marked by heavy losses, a leadership shake-up and thin profit margins.It also lands just months after two other major recalls at the company, raising fresh questions about how well its sprawling network of brands is integrated behind the scenes.A merger of giantsStellantis was formed in January 2021 through the merger of Italian-American Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and France's PSA Group, the parent company of Peugeot and Citroën.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe deal, approved by the European Commission the previous December, created what was then the world's fourth-largest carmaker by sales.The merger was years in the making. FCA's late chief executive, Sergio Marchionne, had been searching for a partner since 2015, arguing that carmakers needed greater scale to absorb the costs of electrification, autonomous driving and tightening emissions rules.Fiat Chrysler first pursued a tie-up with Renault in 2019, but that deal collapsed amid political concerns from the French government and resistance from Renault's alliance partner, Nissan.They then turned to PSA, and the two companies agreed to merge in December 2019, targeting annual cost savings of around €3.7 billion.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe combined group brought together some of Europe's most recognisable carmakers under one roof, including Vauxhall in the UK, Opel in Germany, and Peugeot and Citroën in France, alongside Fiat Chrysler's American and Italian brands.It remains substantially family-controlled. The Agnelli family, which founded Fiat, and the Peugeot family are both major shareholders, alongside the French state's investment bank.The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, though chief executive Antonio Filosa runs day-to-day operations from Auburn Hills, Michigan.Stellantis controls 14 brands spanning Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram and Vauxhall, among others.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt employs around 250,000 people across more than 30 countries and sold 5.4 million vehicles in 2024, generating revenues of roughly €156.9 billion. It remains one of Europe's largest carmakers by market share and one of its biggest industrial employers.RelatedStellantis to launch 60 new models by 2030: electric car made in PomiglianoStellantis invests €1bn in French operations for new EV and hybrid productionA camera glitch, not a hardware faultThe latest recall stems from radio software, not the cameras themselves. Stellantis found that a fault in the infotainment system could stop the rearview camera image from appearing on the media screen when a vehicle is shifted into reverse.AdvertisementAdvertisementOf the total, 848,511 vehicles are affected in the US, spanning the 2026 and 2027 model years.The recall covers the Chrysler Pacifica, Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid and Voyager, the Dodge Charger, several Jeep models including the Cherokee, Compass, Gladiator, Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, and Ram's 1500, 2500 and ProMaster ranges.A further 82,869 vehicles are affected in Canada, about 7,969 in Mexico, and 15,736 across other markets — though it remains unclear whether any of those fall within Europe.Stellantis says it has not received reports of accidents or injuries linked to the fault.The company plans to fix the issue with a free over-the-air software update, meaning most owners will not need to visit a dealership.AdvertisementAdvertisementA prompt will appear on the vehicle's screen once the update is ready, and written recall notices are expected to reach owners by post from September.Part of a wider patternThis is Stellantis's third major US recall of 2026. In June, the company recalled more than 1 million Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models over a power-steering wiring defect linked to a fire risk.In July, it recalled a smaller batch of Grand Wagoneer and Wagoneer L SUVs over faulty brake software that could disable electronic stability control.Backup cameras have also become a recurring headache across the wider car industry.Since the US mandated the safety feature on all new passenger vehicles under 4,500 kg in 2018, camera-related faults have led to recalls covering roughly 21 million vehicles nationwide, according to an analysis by Bloomberg.AdvertisementAdvertisementStellantis has now traced at least three separate rearview camera failures back to radio software rather than the cameras themselves in recent years, pointing to deeper issues in how the company integrates its infotainment systems across brands.For now, Stellantis is advising affected drivers to rely on their side and rear-view mirrors when reversing until the software fix reaches their vehicle.
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