Putting the automaker’s 14 brands under one roof looked risky when PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles merged to form Stellantis. However, nearly two years later, the brand is “performing well,” according to the company’s North American chief operating officer, Mark Stewart, who made remarks this week at the Automotive News Congress in Detroit.
One wonders if each will survive, but the automaker has been quick to say it has no immediate plans to drop any brands when it merges. Quite the opposite, the automaker said it would give each one 10 years to prove its worthiness. Stewart repeated this at the event, saying, “Everyone has a chance to fight.”
30 Photo
Ten years feels like a lifetime, but 2030 is fast approaching, and Stellantis has set some big goals for itself. The automaker plans to unveil at least 25 battery-electric vehicles by the end of the decade. It also wants 100 percent of vehicle sales in Europe to be BEVs by 2030, which will be helped by Peugeot, which aims to become a fully electric brand in Europe by then.
There are more plans happening soon at the other brands in the Stellantis range. Alfa will unveil the Giulia SWB Zagato in 2023, while Maserati is gearing up to launch its first electric vehicle with the revamped Gran Turismo, which will come with all-wheel drive. Chrysler is gearing up to launch up to three EVs in 2028. The struggling American brand showcased the Airflow concept, teasing the brand’s future design language.
Automakers are also forging ahead with significant investments in manufacturing and production as they gear up for the next decade. It invested more than $100 million into the powertrain plant and a whopping $2.8 billion in the Canadian facility. This will prepare them for an ambitious electric car future.
It will be interesting to see how the 14 brands navigate the next few years. Stellantis wanted to cut costs and find efficiencies to save money, which could hinder brands from standing out. We’ve already seen how similar the new Dodge Hornet and the Alfa Romeo Tonale allegedly create some friction.
