2025/2 Stellantis
kfz-tech.de/YFi30
We need to take another look at Stellantis. Let's review each of the individual brands. Where is the crisis be most noticeable in 2025? Jeep may no longer be the company's flagship, but it still
has a name and enough models.
Ram is mainly known here for its pickups such as the 2500/3500 and 1500, an electric version of which has been announced but is not yet available. The same applies to Dodge, with its focus
on sporty vehicles. But where are the legendary Charger/Challenger models?
There is an electric Charger. It is manufactured in Italy, but it is anything but a success with consumers; it is considered not only unattractive, but also overpriced and unreliable. In general,
Fiat and Alfa Romeo currently have at least no chance in the American market.
Things aren't looking good for Chrysler. You may recall that Waymo conducted its first autonomous driving trials in 2016/2017 using a fleet of the Pacifica Hybrid van. So, this hybrid model has
been around for quite a while, but where is the next step towards a fully electric vehicle?
If you click on 'Models' on Chrysler.com, you only see three vans. What a rich history Chrysler has! We visited the company museum, where the famous Airflow was just one model among
many. And now
this, essentially just a minivan.
| Chrysler was once one of the big three in the American auto market.
|
Maserati, another brand with a 110-year history this time. The biggest criticism here is the biggest price drop for models in the luxury segment. Can the new Grecale, built on the same platform
as the Alfa
Romeo Stelvio, compete with the Porsche Macan and turn things around for the brand?
The biggest faux pas is actually the Lancia brand, even older than Maserati. What hasn't been invented over the course of this long period: The bombshell with the Lambda: self-supporting
body and front axle
with independent suspension, but mentioned here only as an example.
(
The Lancia Stratos, with its fascinating all-wheel drive and Ferrari technology, still has a unique selling point, as it has surpassed its competitors even in the toughest rallies. More on this in a
later chapter of
this book.
And then you let this brand wither away, obviously losing track of the many brands. Lancia was hit the hardest. Eventually, they only offered one car in one country. However, the decline had
already begun
when Lancia still belonged to Fiat.
And today? The Ypsilon is available as both a hybrid and a fully electric vehicle, and it features a new design. But among them is an Opel Corsa, Peugeot 208, Fiat 600 and, believe it or not,
even a Jeep
(Avanger).
For an electric car appearing in 2025, the charging capacity is average at best. Yes, the interior is well-designed, but critics point out that it uses too much hard plastic. The Opel Corsa
Electric is available for
almost the same price.
The platform concept has reached its limits, especially since the Stellantis group has a certain focus on smaller cars. Here we step on each other's toes. While the models based on the same
platform are
produced together, customers are unlikely to find any added value in this approach.
If similar issues also occur with identical engines, such as the timing belt running through the oil and swelling in the 1.2L three-cylinder engines, then the problem can spread to the entire
range of cars equipped with that engine (see video above).
| 
