Stellantis Unveils Technology To Support Flexible EV Production, Delays Ram Electric Pickup

Technology For EV Production: Stellantis said on Tuesday it will deploy a new vehicle system that will support assembly of gasoline, hybrid and electric models, but in a sign of how turbulent electric-vehicle transition is, automaker also delayed production of Ram electric pickup trucks.

Franco-Italian company revealed details about its STLA Frame platform, which will support full-size trucks and SUVs. Platforms are thought of as a skateboard on which many different s of vehicles can be built, and include important electrical and mechanical components of car.

"We are very focused on execution of our plan, despite all difficult challenges that industry is facing," said CEO Carlos Tavares on a call with reporters.

Tavares said automaker is delaying production of its electric Ram pickups until first half of 2025 from this year, citing need to ensure quality.

"We are just facing a very significant amount of worklo," he said.

Automakers in Detroit and elsewhere rushed into building EV-manufacturing capacity over last two years, only for demand to grow more slowly than anticipated.

decision of wher to focus on platforms that support EVs versus those that include flexibility for hybrids or gasoline-powered vehicles has split automakers. Ford Motor has leaned into selling hybrid vehicles, while General Motors has focused on battery-powered models after investing more up front into building its own EV platform. GM will start offering plug-in hybrids in 2027, it said.

Stellantis is mainly offering plug-in hybrids in US for now, but plans to ramp up EV sales in coming years, chasing a goal of 100 per cent battery electric car sales in Europe and 50 per cent electric passenger car and light-duty truck sales in US by 2030.

global industry faces even greater uncertainty around EV demand if US President-elect Donald Trump carries out plans to unravel various incentives around EV production and sales.

Trump’s transition team is planning to kill $7,500 consumer tax credit for electric-vehicle purchases as part of broer tax-reform legislation, two sources with direct knowledge of matter told Reuters last week.

Some of Stellantis’ plug-in hybrids, including Jeep Grand Cherokee, qualify for half of that credit.

carmaker is confronting slipping sales in North America, which has historically brought in sizable profits thanks to sales of its popular Jeep and Ram vehicles. Tavares changed his management team in an effort to dress its high vehicle inventory and slumping stock price, and he is planning to retire at end of his contract in 2026.

Stellantis’ shares are down about 40 per  this year.

company announced in 2021 it would design Frame platform in dition to large, medium and smaller foundations to accommodate different vehicles in its lineup. Ram and Jeep vehicles are first to use Frame version, Stellantis said on Tuesday.

Battery electric vehicles on Frame will have up to 500 miles (805 km) of range, and it will offer a 14,000-pound (6,350-kg) towing capacity, company said. It will also support hydrogen and extended-range electric vehicles.