Maria Grazia Davino, the vocal head of Stellantis UK, has unexpectedly departed from her position after just over a year in the role.

During her short time leading Stellantis UK, Davino was known for her strong criticisms of Rishi Sunak’s government, indicating potential withdrawals of investments and even the closure of assembly plants in Luton and Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

At 46 years old, Davino was considered a promising figure within Stellantis, which was created through the merger of the French automotive companies Peugeot and Citroën, along with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles during the pandemic. Vauxhall, a brand that had been owned by General Motors for decades, was acquired by Peugeot-Citroën for a nominal price five years back.

Her exit comes amidst a global management overhaul led by Stellantis Chief Executive Carlos Tavares, who is facing challenges due to declining sales and a backlog of unsold vehicles as the company aims to transition towards electric vehicle production.

Stellantis confirmed on Friday that Davino left to explore new opportunities and is currently on gardening leave as she has secured a new role within the industry.

Throughout her tenure, Davino’s forthright comments set her apart from typical automotive executives who generally avoid criticizing the government, particularly as they often rely on its subsidies. Stellantis/Vauxhall remains the only mainstream van manufacturer in Britain.

In her first significant statement this year, upon announcing further investments at the Vivaro van facility in Luton, Davino emphasized, “While this decision reflects Stellantis’s confidence in the plant, the transition towards a fully electric future necessitates increased support from the UK government to stimulate demand in the electric vehicle sector and assist manufacturers investing in the UK for a sustainable shift.”

Her remarks escalated during a major automotive event where Tavares referred to the UK as a “hostile environment” for manufacturers like Stellantis, which has transformed Ellesmere Port into Europe’s inaugural all-electric van factory.

Davino raised concerns regarding the rapid imposition of sales quotas within the UK’s zero-emission vehicle mandate, warning Stellantis might face substantial fines. She indicated there could be severe consequences, affording an ominous remark that while “Stellantis UK does not stop, Stellantis production in the UK could stop.”

When pressed about potential factory closures affecting 2,000 employees, Davino confirmed, “Yes, that is the worst scenario, the extreme consequence… We would reevaluate our investment and may relocate it to another country. It is certainly a possibility.”

Vauxhall has experienced a notable downturn in the UK, with car sales plummeting by 30 percent in September alone, a key month for new registrations. Year-to-date, Vauxhall’s market share has dwindled to 4 percent, down from over 10 percent a decade ago, when it was the second-largest market player after Ford.

Jean-Philippe Imparato, Davino’s superior and Stellantis Europe’s newly appointed chief operating officer, commended her for navigating regulatory changes in a turbulent industry, stating, “Her leadership has left a significant impact on our UK operations and laid the groundwork for the future.”

Eurig Druce, who is currently leading the Peugeot brand in the UK, will succeed Davino.