Investing.com -- Stellantis NV hired Hyundai Motor Co.'s top US sales executive as the owner of the Jeep and Ram brands looks to sustain a rebound in car deliveries.

Michael Orange, former vice president of national sales for Hyundai Motor America, will become the head of US sales for Stellantis starting April 22, the company said in a statement Thursday. He replaces Jeff Kommor, who is retiring after more than 40 years with the automaker.

Stellantis' global shipments jumped 12% in the first quarter, driven by a surge in deliveries of Ram pickups in the US. Chief Executive Officer Antonio Filosa is counting on a US sales rebound to return the region to profitability this year while he grapples with overcapacity in Europe and the incursion of Chinese brands that are pressuring margins.

Orange will focus on improving retail sales and growing market share "as we continue building momentum in the US," Filosa said in the statement.

Hyundai surpassed Stellantis to become the fourth-biggest automaker by sales in the US in 2023, and Stellantis dropped to the sixth spot in 2025, according to researcher Cox Automotive.