Stellantis relaunches in Europe: 50 new models by 2030 and more production

PARIS — More production capacity in Europe, reconversion of factories, new models and new engines. The background remains uncertain: geopolitical tensions, unbalanced competition with China, uneven energy transition and a regulatory framework still partly to be clarified in Europe. In this uncertain scenario Stellantis is trying to chart a new direction, hypothesizing an increase in the use of factories in Europe. And it does so from Paris, on the eve of the opening of the Auto Show, presenting the concepts of the future. Some are very concrete and close to production, such as the 2CV, which will arrive in a European factory, perhaps Pomigliano d'Arco, on the e-car platform. New challenge insisted on by the president of Stellantis, John Elkann, from a European perspective. Elkann then reached the Elysée to participate in the event with the big names in the car industry organized by the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, who will inaugurate the Show in a few hours.

Chaplain: “We will increase the use of European factories”

Emanuele Cappellano, number one in the wider European market, placed the emphasis on the increase in the utilization rate of European factories. A goal that must be achieved through three main tools. First: the "reconversion of the plants", i.e. the adaptation of the production structures to the new range needs and technological evolutions. Second: the "sharing of production capacity with partners", such as the Chinese Leapmotor and Dongfeng with which the Italian-French group already has agreements, and with others that will probably arrive by the end of the year. A way to create "capital and cost synergies".

This is to make production more flexible and reduce exposure to fluctuations in demand. Third: the launch of new models and engines, an element that links the industry to the market". The maximization of production capacity is one of the three priorities of Stellantis' European strategy, together with "brand differentiation" and "improvement of competitiveness". In addition to the strategies in Hangar Y in Paris, where the concepts were unveiled, there is no shortage of numbers and deadlines. "Over 50 new products expected by 2030". The ambition is also commercial. Stellantis wants to increase coverage by "25% market in Europe".

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