Ford rival Stellantis has been rapidly moving toward electrification as of late, not terribly long after it criticized other automakers for doing precisely that. Over the past few months, that automaker has announced a number of investments in that particular area as it aims to expand its EV offerings in a big way, though Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares recently stated that he doesn’t plan to cut the prices of its electric vehicles as others have done, even as demand falters a bit. Now, Stellantis is following Ford’s decision to expand its hybrid lineup by announcing that it plans to do precisely that same thing, at least in Europe.
By 2026, Stellantis plans to expand its European hybrid lineup to include 36 different electrified models amid growing demand. That total includes 30 hybrids this year alone – encompassing nine of its 14 brands – with six more planned to arrive in the ensuing couple of years. In that region, Stellantis has thus far enjoyed a 41 percent sales increase among its existing hybrid lineup in the first half of 2024, while its EVs sales remained flat over that same timeframe.
Stellantis plans to focus specifically on mild hybrids as part of this expansion, however, many of which are equipped with eDCT tech, a 21 kW electric motor, and a 48-volt, 0.9 kWh battery. “When you compare this system to a high-voltage hybrid, it has a very similar CO2 gain at a lower cost for our customer,” said Christian Müller, Stellantis’ senior vice president of propulsion systems for the EMEA region. “Our system is as good as the others but with a slightly better price-entry point.”
“We have a very competitive hybrid solution that we are now ramping up with our new eDCT technology and we are rolling it out across a wide range of models, making it accessible to many customers,” said Sébastien Jacquet, Stellantis Deputy Chief Engineering Officer. “Hybrids are easy to use and don’t require any change in driving habits compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. Our advanced eDCT technology allows the internal combustion engine to remain off, particularly during low-speed driving, resulting in reduced CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. This is not just innovation; it’s innovation within reach of everyone.”
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Comment
How about us on this side of the Atlantic? Ford dropped the hybrid Explorer, Escape line being dropped. In the past I owned a Fusion PHEV than a Escape hybrid. I ordered a hybrid Maverick in 2023 that never got built. So I now have a Hyundai Santa Fe Limited PHEV. Ford why no Bronco Sport hybrid?