Stellantis to Launch Four Electric Pickup Trucks
[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.]
Stellantis NV on Oct. 18 laid out its offensive in the commercial vehicle market, committing to launching four electrified pickup trucks in North America over the next two years.
As a part of its Dare Forward 2030 strategy, its commercial vehicle business is expected to represent half of the nearly $317 billion in annual revenues the automaker is projecting by 2030. The company forecasts connected services will supply an additional $5.3 billion by then.
Stellantis is the No. 3 seller of commercial vehicles in North America behind Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co., and it has said it wants to be the biggest. Stellantis Pro One is its response to Ford Pro as well as GM and its BrightDrop electric commercial van brand.
“We are launching Pro One to leverage our undeniable commercial vehicles leadership with the concept — six brands, one force — as this business accounts for one-third of Stellantis net revenues,” Jean-Philippe Imparato, head of the Stellantis commercial vehicles business unit, said in a statement. “As customer expectations grow more complex and diverse, we are here to address each specific need with a dedicated solution.”
#Stellantis introduces Pro One, our #CommercialVehicles offensive to boost global leadership, encompassing the professional offerings of six iconic brands of Stellantis. https://t.co/akA2DO0Q5V@Citroen, @FiatProOfficial, @Opel, @Peugeot, @RamTrucks, @Vauxhall #StellantisProOne pic.twitter.com/86XRMiCQZf — Stellantis (@Stellantis) October 18, 2023
The company previously said it will have 26 commercial launches globally by 2030 with a 40% electric sales mix. The lineup now will stretch across six brands: Ram as well as Citroën, Fiat, Opel, Peugeot and Vauxhall. It includes five vans, 10 pickup trucks and one micro-mobility offer. Fifteen plants in North America, Europe, South America, the Middle East and Africa will support production.
Stellantis claims leadership in the light commercial vehicle space in its “enlarged Europe” region as well as South America. The North American market, however, can be a tough one in which to increase share because of high rates of loyalty.
“It would take a lot more if it wasn’t Stellantis” to become a more dominant player, said Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions. “They have a range of product from small to large, and large pickup trucks are a uniquely North American thing.
“They have the same ground covered that Ford already is in. Finding a way to utilize all the assets they already have across all the markets they are in would be to help them be as competitive as Ford. “
The automaker previously has shown it can do this when Chrysler and Fiat SpA tied up, he added.
For North America, four electrified pickup trucks will launch in the next two years. That includes the all-electric Ram 1500 REV that will begin production in the fourth quarter of 2024 and a hydrogen-powered option. The REV also will have a Range Electric Paradigm Breaker model that uses an internal combustion engine to power the vehicle’s battery. Ram earlier this year also showed dealers a midsize pickup concept.
Jeep wasn’t identified in the news release for the commercial vehicle strategy, but to meet its goal of electrifying its lineup by 2025, the midsize Gladiator pickup would need a plug-in option, as well.
News of the launches, however, comes as the company’s competitors are pulling back on electric truck production. GM on Oct. 17 said it’s pushing back the launch of electric trucks at its Orion Assembly plant by one year to late 2025, saying it was aligning plans to “evolving EV demand.”
#Stellantis Pro One strategy will help in achieving #StellantisDareForward 2030 strategic plan targets:
✅ doubling of commercial vehicle net revenues by 2030 vs 2021
✅ a 40% electric vehicle sales mix
✅ generating €5 billion in service revenues
More: https://t.co/akA2DO0Q5V pic.twitter.com/Pz8UGiOABP — Stellantis (@Stellantis) October 19, 2023
Meanwhile, Ford is considering cutting a shift at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn where it builds the electric F-150 Lightning, the Wall Street Journal reported this week, citing a memo written by a local union leader who said sales of the electric truck had “tanked.”
The moves by GM and Ford indicate that the transition to EVs is slowing as the adoption curve moves from early adopters to general car buyers, Fiorani said, with hesitancy continuing around range anxiety, the need for more charging infrastructure and demand for faster charging speeds.
“However, if you are a vehicle manufacturer,” he said, “you have to be represented. With the Ram REV already ready to go, they’ve got a competitive product against Ford and GM.”
Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing above or go here for more info
Added Daniel Ives, analyst at wealth management firm Wedbush Securities Inc.: “It’s a battle for market share. Stellantis is doubling down. GM and Ford are taking a step back.”
Stellantis will share its next-generation connected vans during a livestreamed presentation on Oct. 23. The all-electric Ram ProMaster for the North American market will launch this year in Mexico. Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis previously suggested it would make its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show running Nov. 17-26.
Stellantis sells 1.6 million commercial vehicles annually now. It plans to double commercial vehicle net revenues by 2030, compared to 2021.
The automaker also is piloting a program with France’s Qinomic to retrofit vehicles with zero-emission solutions. It’ll leverage its Free2move Charge business to help customers with charging infrastructure and installation. All vans and pickup trucks sold will be connected by the end of 2023.
