DETROIT — Dating back to the days of Chrysler Corp., Stellantis North America has spent close to $100 billion with suppliers owned by minorities, women and veterans since 1983 when it started its supplier diversity program.
The automaker built many of those relationships in person, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to change how it engaged with supplier prospects.
The in-person meetings that once were critical to establishing rapport have gone virtual. In addition, the health crisis yielded a new online gateway for diverse suppliers to get noticed at Stellantis. The automaker was formed after the January merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and France's PSA Group.
The purchasing division's commitment to doing business with diverse suppliers is stronger than ever, and the company is surpassing its spending goals with them. Stellantis spent more than $6 billion with more than 200 diverse suppliers in 2020.