Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group completed their $52 billion tie-up and have formally merged into Stellantis .
The merger will create an auto group with combined annual sales of around 8.1 million vehicles and deep enough pockets to fund the shift to electric driving and take on bigger rivals Toyota and Volkswagen Group.
"The merger between Peugeot S.A. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. that will lead the path to the creation of Stellantis N.V. became effective today," the two automakers said in a statement.
It took over a year for the Italian-American and French automakers to finalise the deal, during which the global economy was upended by the COVID-19 pandemic. They first announced plans to merge in October 2019.
FCA and PSA have said Stellantis can cut annual costs by over 5 billion euros ($6.1 billion) without plant closures.