Among the major car manufacturers - Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, General Motors, and Ford - Stellantis is considered the weak link. The merger created from the joining of Peugeot and Fiat formed a global giant that includes Peugeot, Citroën, DS Automobiles and Opel, Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Maserati, as well as Chrysler, Dodge and Ram Trucks. There are too many brands, some of which struggle to turn a profit.
Antonio Filosa, the new CEO, presented the group’s roadmap, promising that by 2030 we will see more than 60 new vehicle launches and 50 major facelifts, including 29 full electric vehicles, 15 plug-in hybrid models, 24 hybrids, and 39 mild-hybrid and gasoline models.
Jeep, Ram, Peugeot, and Fiat - considered the group’s global core brands - will receive 70% of the investments. Chrysler, Dodge, Citroën, Opel, and Alfa Romeo, considered regional brands, will receive the remainder. DS and Lancia will survive, managed through Citroën and Fiat respectively, and will be developed as niche brands. Maserati will also receive investment for new models. The message: Contrary to earlier expectations, no brand will be shut down or sold to Chinese manufacturers seeking to replicate the successful MG strategy under SAIC.
Stellantis is keeping full details for the coming years, but in the meantime it is releasing information about a lineup of more affordable models across nearly all brands, in response to Chinese competition and the continuous rise in new car prices worldwide and across market segments. The electric Citroën “De Chevot” reported earlier is just the beginning.
Fiat: Will launch the “Grizzly,” a crossover twin to the Opel Frontera and the Citroën C3 Aircross, including a four-door Fastback version. The mechanical base will be identical, with an expected 1.2-liter mild hybrid unit producing 145 hp, as well as a 113 hp electric version.
Chrysler: The new Arrow and Arrow Cross models will be priced under $30,000 in the United States and will be among the cheapest vehicles in the market, with hints that they are being developed together with Fiat, likely as an American version of the Grizzly. The Airflow - an old name from the 1930s that has circulated as a concept within the company for a decade - will cost under $40,000 and will be a sibling model to the Peugeot 3008 and related vehicles.
Dodge: Will receive its own sporty version of the Airflow, a crossover-hatchback hybrid with around 300 horsepower, developed under the name GLH (Go Like Hell). It will also add the Copperhead, a new sports car that will be launched in both electric and V8 gasoline versions.
Ram: The American pickup brand will finally get the Rampage, a smaller truck that will compete with the Ford Maverick and is already sold in South America. Now it will also arrive in Europe and the United States, including production in the U.S. and likely in Europe as well, enabling sales in Israel too.
The European version of the Rampage will feature a 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine (200 hp, 45 kgm) and a 2.7-liter turbo gasoline engine (272 hp, 40 kgm). It will also have a 9-speed automatic transmission. It will come with permanent all-wheel drive and a low-range gear. The diesel version accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 9.9 seconds, while the gasoline version does it in 6.9 seconds and reaches 220 km/h. Specifications for the American version have not yet been published.
In addition, the Dakota nameplate will be revived as a mid-size pickup comparable to the Toyota Tacoma in the U.S. and the Hilux in Europe and Israel.