** Milan-listed shares in Stellantis STLAM.MI briefly fell to €4.99 during Friday's trading, their lowest price since the creation of the Franco-Italian group

** Stellantis shares currently edge down 1.9% to €5.03, while the wider European auto sector .SXAP slips 0.6% on Friday

** Auto shares are "drifting" as the industry is unable to generate positive news, leaving underperformers like Stellantis under greater strain, according to Massimo Baggiani of Niche AM, a Stellantis investor

** Niche AM bought Stellantis' shares when they fell below €6 and considers further purchases on expectations of a possible turnaround of its North American business

** Shares hit the lowest level since March 2020, when Stellantis still traded as FCA in Milan

** Stellantis shares' value has nearly halved YTD, while the wider sector has lost about 17%

($1 = 0.8772 euros)