Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa is pushing for a cultural shift within the automaker, urging employees to adopt the intense, in-office focus seen in Silicon Valley tech companies as part of a broader return-to-office (RTO) initiative. The move comes amid efforts to revitalize the company after years of declining U.S. sales and a recent sharp drop in its stock price. In a Friday all-hands meeting, Filosa told employees that Stellantis should emulate the collaborative energy of AI and software startups, particularly those in San Francisco. He cited a visit to Applied Intuition, an AI firm that partners with Stellantis on vehicle infotainment systems, as a key influence. During the trip, Filosa observed engineers working full-time in the office, deeply engaged in teamwork and innovation. He said the experience reinforced his belief that in-person collaboration drives better results. Filosa emphasized that Stellantis, despite its size, must prioritize face-to-face interaction to stay competitive. He encouraged employees to work together more closely, drawing a direct comparison to the high-performance culture of tech startups. The transcript of the meeting, shared with Business Insider by an employee and confirmed accurate by four other Stellantis staff members, captures the CEO’s clear message: productivity and innovation thrive in the office. Stellantis, which owns brands including Chrysler, Jeep, Ram, Fiat, and Peugeot, announced last month that U.S. employees would be required to return to the office five days a week starting March 30. Employees outside the U.S. are also expected to return full-time, though the rollout timeline will vary by region. The company was an early adopter of remote work, introducing a 70% remote policy for white-collar staff in 2022. However, it gradually tightened rules, requiring at least three days in the office last year. The latest mandate marks a significant escalation, aligning Stellantis more closely with recent trends in the tech industry, where companies like Amazon and Meta have enforced strict return-to-office policies tied to a “hardcore” work culture focused on performance and efficiency. This shift comes at a challenging time for the automaker. Filosa, who took over as CEO in June 2025 after leading Jeep, is now leading a turnaround effort. Stellantis’ stock plummeted as much as 25% on Friday following the announcement of a $26 billion charge tied to a strategic reset of its electric vehicle (EV) roadmap amid a broader industry-wide downturn in EV demand. Rival Ford has also moved to tighten remote work rules, requiring employees to return at least four days a week and warning some could face termination if they don’t comply. These moves reflect a growing trend among large corporations to reassert office presence as a way to rebuild culture, boost collaboration, and regain momentum in fast-evolving markets.