At first glance, you wouldn’t think that the platform underlying a new generation of cars has anything to do with politics and elections.
But at Stellantis, the new giant car mounts announced Friday are critical to the company’s ability to adapt to European and U. S. governments’ needs for electric cars that could be replaced depending on this year’s election.
CEO Carlos Tavares says the company’s new giant platform is flexible enough to support batteries and electric motors, gas-electric hybrids, and internal combustion engines. The company can also build midsize to giant-sized cars on those bases, adding sedans and crossovers. , SUVs and even off-road jeeps.
That flexibility is important, he said, because policies selling electric cars as a way to combat the climate could be reversed depending on the U. S. president-elect or European parliaments this year.
Tavares says electric cars cost 40% more than combustion engine cars, pushing costs higher than the middle class can afford. Governments have tried to promote EV sales with subsidies and tax credits, but some countries are starting to reconsider those measures.
“As soon as you do not fix the affordability issue by giving me a significant subsidy that will fix it, then I stop buying,” Tavares said of consumers. “That message is loud and clear.”
Growth in EV sales is already slowing in many countries as consumers resist the extra cost, limited diversity and lack of charging stations. On Friday, Ford announced that it will cut production of the F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck after a smaller-than-expected expansion. in electric vehicle sales.
Some political candidates, including Republican candidate Donald Trump in the United States, have criticized the shift to electric vehicles, as it would end policies aimed at selling them.
Stellantis, maker of Jeep, Ram, Dodge and other vehicles, has two scenarios, one if populist anti-EV applicants win and the other if pro-EV applicants are elected, Tavares said. “One is to speed up (electric vehicles), the other is to slow down,” he said. “Not necessarily stop. We want to solve the challenge of global warming. “
Tavares said that in some European countries, governments are imposing electric cars on consumers who can’t do so. Many keep their existing cars longer, increasing the average age of cars, which he says is a “disaster” for the planet.
Stellantis, he said, is now making money from its electric cars, unlike many competitors. Those who can’t get the best prices for their cars probably won’t have money to invest in new, less expensive cars and could end up being bundled into a few other corporations or going bankrupt, he said.
If corporations continue to slash EV costs to attract buyers and don’t make money, there may be a “bloodbath” in the industry, Tavares said.
Stellantis said cars made from the new giant platform will be made at several plants in North America and Europe. In North America, the first new cars to be released will most likely update the Dodge Charger car and a new edition of the Jeep. Wagoner S.
The platform can handle front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive vehicles, the company said. The first will reach the market this year, with eight vehicles from Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo and Maserati on sale by the end of 2026.
The company can vary the length and width of cars and differentiate them from others through modifications to handling and handling, as well as infotainment and other internal features. The use of a platform for battery and gasoline motors is unique in the industry, with a lot of competition. Other chassis construction for propulsion type.
“The flexibility and agility of this platform is its hallmark and will be a driver of our good fortune in the transition to electrification in North America,” said Tavares.
A midsize vehicle platform announced through the company last year provides flexibility, the company said. It also includes a new platform for small vehicles.