Stellantis targets 2 million units per year from STLA Medium EV platform

Stellantis’ STLA Medium platform will underpin at least 2 million EVs a year and offer a range of up to 700 km (435 miles) on vehicles starting with the Peugeot 3008 SUV by the end of this year.

The platform -- which Stellantis says is “BEV by design” -- is one of four electric architectures that Stellantis announced in 2021 when the group was formed after the merger of PSA and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The others are STLA Small, STLA Large and STLA Frame.

Stellantis released the first details of STLA Medium on Wednesday, with executives emphasizing that it is “best in class” in range, efficiency and charging time. 

The group plans to sell only full-electric vehicles in Europe by 2030, with a target of 50 percent EVs in North America by that date.

STLA Medium will be used for compact and midsize vehicles across the group’s Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Chrysler, DS, Jeep, Opel and Peugeot brands.

Among the factories where cars with STLA Medium are Sochaux, France (Peugeot 3008); Eisenach, Germany (Opel Grandland, 2024); Melfi, Italy (cars for DS, Opel and Lancia starting in 2024); and in North America (Chrysler and Jeep), CEO Carlos Tavares said. Future sites include plants in Southeast Asia, he said.

Tavares emphasized that the platform was designed around battery-electric vehicles, but he said it could be “adapted” to use internal combustion powertrains, for countries that are moving more slowly toward EVs.

“If there is any trade-off, it will be to the detriment of powertrains other than BEVs,” he said.

Sebastien Jacquet, deputy chief technology officer, said that to accept internal-combustion engines the front end of the platform should be modified.

The wheelbase can range from 2700 mm to 2900 mm, with an overall length of 4300 mm to 4900 mm. Ground clearance can be boosted to more than 220 mm, for off-road performance.

On the powertrain side, the floor-mounted battery pack will come in two sizes up to 98 kilowatt hours, with a mixed-use range of more than 700 km for the Performance pack (500 km highway range) and more than 500 km for the Standard pack under the WLTP cycle.

Power output will range from 160 to 285 kilowatts (218 to 388 hp), from one or two electric motors (for front-wheel or all-wheel drive). The motors will come from Stellantis’ joint venture with Nidec.

While some mainstream automakers are moving to an 800-volt architecture for faster charging, including Hyundai/Kia, STLA medium will have a 400-volt system.

Efficiency will be below 14 kWh per 100 km, which Stellantis says is state of the art. 

Jacquet said the main reason to stick with 400 volts is affordability at this point, but he said an 800-volt system could be added in the future.

Other automakers such as Volkswagen Group and Hyundai Group have created dedicated EV platforms, including moving back to rear-wheel drive with rear-mid-mounted motors.Tavares emphasized that remaining with a multi-energy platform does not mean lower EV performance.

“There is no compromise on EV performance, that is why we have such a high range and level of energy efficiency,” he said. 

Jacquet said the ability to offer compact EVs of 4300 mm long with a 98 kWh battery, large wheel and tire combinations up to 750 mm, with 700 km of range and efficiency of  better than 14 kWh/100 km was “unique on the market.”

“Competitors are either decreasing the size of the wheel, increasing the length of the car or decreasing the kilowatt-hours of the battery,” he said.