Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles delivered its next five-year plan last Friday and with it came news of a $10.5 billion investment into electrification. It’s the first major piece of electrification news to counter General Motors’ sweeping vision of 20 new electric cars by 2023.
Our sister site, Fiat-Chrysler Authority, reported on Friday that FCA plans to initiate its electrification strategy via the Jeep and Maserati brands. For Jeep, 14 new models will feature some sort of electrification, while Maserati will go fully electrified.
To be clear, “electrification” is a broad term, and can include 48-volt mild-hybrid systems, plug-in hybrids and battery-electric cars.
FCA has long taken a “technology neutral” stance as electrification and mobility become more prevalent in the industry. While FCA remains cautious on electric cars and hybrids, it’s also leaned on GM rival Waymo as its gateway into self-driving vehicles. FCA is reportedly in talks to license Waymo technology for FCA passenger vehicles, rather than develop its own in-house technology like GM Cruise continues to do.
We won’t know which strategy will prevail, but FCA and GM continue to take very different paths as the automotive industry shifts.
Comments
The more electrification, the better for our environment!
This will be a real task. GM is already several gens ahead.
FCA outside Jeep and Ram are struggling to be relevant and profitable. This is their last card to play and if it works it may help them find a partner to merge with that also lacks funds and an EV program.
The real issue is EV models will still be limited in the near future so they will have to hold on.
I would add Dodge to that. Despite having somewhat old platforms constant updates have kept them relevant and among the best buys out there in their class for RWD performance. Say what you will but FCA does much with few resources compared to GM.
FCA has done so much with so little. The LX platform is still fantastic. GM over spends and under delivers.
Masserati as an electric brand is very smart. Alfa seems to be growing quickly. I just wish Chrysler had gotten a larger investment. Right now with Pacifica thriving would be a great time to rebrand Chrysler. A Buick-like sedan and people mover line up would thrive in US and China.
The LX platform is not what most would call fantastic, but FCA has done a good job playing to its strengths and creating a vehicle that doesn’t attempt to excel at its weaknesses.
Had FCA been successful in a hostile takeover the big cars would have ditched LX for the VF plateform as fast as possible, which while being significantly better than LX, is over shown up by Alpha (soon to be Alpha II)
The cars have played to a niche market on HP and good marketing.
The go like hell in a straight line in limited numbers but they do not turn or stop with the Camaro or Mustang. Magazines do not even compare them
Any more.
The engineers have been done much with nothing and the marketing folks have been very creative. But time is running out and replacements have been delayed and canceled several times.
The 300 has been wasted as it should be selling at a higher price not below the price of a Malibu. There is no money in deep discounts.
One thing that FCA needs to wrap their head around is that they will only be allowed to sell ZEVs in parts of western Europe, Canada and China by as soon as 2025 which means FCA doesn’t really have much of a choice in electrification strategy.. you either go whole hog or you won’t be allowed to sell your vehicles.
The notion that automakers “will only be allowed to sell ZEVs in parts of western Europe, Canada and China by as soon as 2025” is not reality, but more like pie-in-the-sky thinking that borders on mental.
There is a lot of talk about ZEV… but it’s not going to take a lot longer than another 7 years to make it a reality.
Can they find a creepier picture of the guy? I have always been creeped out by that picture.