Stellantis Outlines Plans to Become a Mobility Tech Company

By 2030, you might not recognize Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram. The parent company of those four auto brands, Stellantis, has outlined its bold plan to become a “sustainable mobility technology company” by 2030. The plan includes four new electric vehicle (EV) platforms with sophisticated new electrical architectures and software that will deliver a planned $22.6 billion in high-margin profit while contributing a further $1.1 billion in cost savings.

Starting with the coming models, the Chrysler Airflow Concept points to the direction in which Stellantis is heading. Four new EV platforms will underpin everything in the Stellantis 14-brand global product portfolio, from small cars to commercial vans to rugged SUVs to full-size pickup trucks.

The company says that the first of these platforms will be ready by 2024, with others following by 2030. And they will all be connected, powered by software that does everything from creating brand differentiation between makes and entertaining occupants to providing additional safety features and subscription-based services. Pointing to the latest Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer models and their multitude of available interior screens, a company spokesperson said they represent only the beginning of what’s possible.

Each of the coming EV platforms will feature:

• STLA Brain, a new electrical architecture with artificial intelligence capability
• STLA Smart Cockpit user experience and connected service technologies
• STLA AutoDrive Level 3 and Level 4 autonomous driving systems

Stellantis says it has partnered with iPhone maker Foxconn to develop STLA Smart Cockpit and is working with BMW (Level 3) and Waymo (Level 4) on STLA AutoDrive. The company is also re-training or hiring up to 4,500 people to develop, bring to market, and continually improve upon STLA Brain, Smart Cockpit, and AutoDrive.

Here are some use-case examples of how this transformation may affect people who buy Stellantis vehicles:

• Ability to interact with a vehicle by voice, touch, gesture, and even a glance. Stellantis envisions a situation in which you can glance at a parking spot, nod your head, and the car will autonomously park there
• Personalization and customer care options based on what you prefer to have in a vehicle, including high-end upgrades for luxury customers
• Jeep Trails connectivity plan to foster community, support active lifestyles, and provide remote Wi-Fi access without a cellular connection
• Dodge performance upgrades that owners can pay for when they become available, adding power for improved acceleration
• Ram hauling and towing upgrades that owners can pay for to increase a truck’s capabilities
• On-demand autonomous driving capability for a long road trip
• Usage-based auto insurance; customers pay only for what they use
• More efficient business fleet operation and management through EcoDrive and Geolocation services

Stellantis believes that “cars are the ultimate mobile devices” of the future, each vehicle serving as a “personalized living space.” Its plans will allow the company to enjoy what it says will be a “priceless, constant connection” with its customers that will enable it to strengthen owner relationships over time and offer new products and services through the capture of “actionable intelligence.” Profit margins, estimates Stellantis, will be on par with existing big tech companies.

So, if you want a gas-fueled, tire-shredding, V8-powered car, truck, or SUV from a Stellantis brand, you’d better cough up the cash sooner than later. As Stellantis Chief Technology Officer Ned Curic predicts, the industry transformation to EVs and software-based services “will be rapid and really big.”

And it’s already underway.

Stellantis is the source of information for this article. It was accurate on December 7, 2021, but it may have changed since that date.