Stellantis unveils flexible EV platform, delays Ram electric pickup launch

Stellantis has announced the rollout of its new STLA Frame platform for gasoline, hybrid and electric vehicles. But both the automaker and the production delay of its highly anticipated Ram electric pickup also illuminate the obstacles the EV transition faces. STLA Frame is a flexible design, like a ‘skateboard,’ that combines critical electrical and mechanical components to create the underlying platform for the full size truck and SUVs. Stellantis is able to adapt production to market demands in a variety of powertrain technologies, this flexibility.

"We believe we have a plan which is still working to execute that plan, even in the very difficult conditions in which the industry is being confronted," Carlos Tavares, CEO, told reporters. Production of the electric Ram pickup, which was scheduled to roll in 2021, will now start in the first half of 2025, he said, out of concern about quality.

The delay comes as automakers struggle to move faster on EV demand. Both General Motors (GM) and Ford have committed heavily to all-electric platforms, but Ford is banking on hybrid flexibility, a viability that is especially crucial in an industry where Chinese automakers like BAIC and Chery are increasingly popular. Fifty percent electric passenger and light-duty vehicle sales and 100 percent electric sales in Europe and for more than half of Stellantis’ U.S. sales of both passenger and light-duty vehicles by 2030 are the targets the automaker outlined.

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That puts the USD 7,500 electric vehicle tax credit on the chopping block, with President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team reportedly targeting to scrap it as an incentive for buyers. Right now, Jeep Grand Cherokee owners with Stellantis plug-in hybrids are qualified for part credit.

But Tavares has felt the heat of plummeting North American sales and stubbornly high vehicle inventories, made strategic changes nearly a year ago to try to change that. Stellantis historically has been a profit center for North America because of Jeep and Ram models popular in the region. But its shares have plummeted around 40 per cent this year.

Up to 500 miles of range and 14,000 pound towing capacity is achieved with the STLA Frame platform, which initially debuted in Ram and Jeep vehicles. It is designed to support battery-electric, hydrogen, and extended-range electric powertrains, underscoring Stellantis' focus on adaptability amid an unpredictable market.

The automaker is pushing forward with a diversified approach, seeking to balance immediate market needs with long-term electrification goals.