Stellantis has long stood as a benchmark in Spain, especially on the PSA side. Before joining FCA in the final phase of the group, it produced more cars in Spain than in France, signaling healthy industrial strategy and production flexibility in Spanish plants.
From October 1, a Spaniard will lead the consolidation and prioritization of Stellantis’ industrial strategy in the most promising market segments for small and medium vehicles. His name is Óscar Fernández Puente.
The group administers 14 brands and operates across nearly every region of the world, with a strong presence in Europe, North America, and China. With a clear electrification plan set to reshape many brands, Fernández will be central to steering these efforts.
Born in Leon and trained at the Vigo production center, the position is officially titled Head of the Small and Medium Segment Tool Cluster. This cluster covers Stellantis operations in at least eight factories across six countries: Zaragoza and Madrid in Spain, Mirafiori in Italy, Modena in Italy, Trnava in Slovakia, Temelin in Poland, Poissy in France, and Kragujevac in Serbia. Stellantis’ strategy for the high-volume market segments will rely on Fernández during a pivotal moment as the group electrifies its lineup and relaunches Lancia as a premium electric brand in Europe.
At the same time, he faces a minor setback from the Government which declined to include in the automotive PERTE program its 2,000 million euro proposal for Stellantis factories in Vigo and Madrid, known as Project Aries. The official reason cited was that the project did not meet the PERTE structure requirements. The group remains focused on its electrification plan, which remains indispensable for small and medium segments. Fernández will navigate this challenge while maintaining momentum in the region.
This setback means the new industrial platform STLA, initially developed by the group, could not be incorporated to bring new electric models to Vigo. Yet, the overall development of Spanish factories should continue, provided supply chains and component availability improve.
group man
Óscar Fernández Puente has built much of his career with Stellantis. He earned a Mechanical Industrial Engineering degree from the University of Oviedo and an MBA in Business Management from the University of Vigo. He first connected with the company in 1995 when the PSA Group joined the Vigo Balaídos plant. In 2021, after the FCA merger, he continued with Stellantis and carried responsibilities in the Galicia plant across Production, Quality, and Logistics.
His career did not stop at Vigo. He went to France to advance his leadership path and returned to Galicia seven years later to manage the Vigo Center Technical Unit. The plant became a hub for the K9 commercial vehicle family and the Peugeot 2008 SUV, reinforcing its importance within Stellantis. In 2014, he took the helm at the Citroën plant in Villaverde, Madrid, overseeing production of the compact C4 and contributing to the group’s broader electrification strategy. He later returned to France to take a key role in the Industrial Strategy department within the PSA Group and led the effort to align factories under Stellantis. His work supported the industrial integration of all brands and prepared the infrastructure for electrification across the network.
His previous post as director of Industrial Strategy for the group is being filled by Manuel Munárriz Cardiel, who previously directed Stellantis Zaragoza, consolidating the strength of the Spanish portfolio.
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