The Stellantis group, born from the merger of PSA and Fiat-Chrysler, will launch the mass production of hydrogen utility vehicles at its plant located in Hordain (North), announced this Thursday, October 27, the general director of the car manufacturer Carlos Tavares.
5,000 hydrogen utilities per year
With an investment of 10 million euros, supported by the French State, the site will have in 2024 a capacity of 5,000 utilities per year equipped with a fuel cell.
Sold under the Peugeot, Citroën and Opel brands, they will be destined for the German and French markets, the group said in a press release.
The 2,400-employee northern plant will assemble, in particular, the tank, additional batteries and fuel cell, after the vehicles have passed through the site’s single assembly line. The production of utility vehicles (under the Toyota, Opel, Peugeot, Fiat, Citroën brands) was already 43% electric in August and September.
400 kilometers of autonomy
Stellantis, leader of the juicy commercial vehicle market in Europe, has sold a few dozen hydrogen models since its launch at the end of 2021. They are currently assembled in small series at the Rüsselsheim plant in Germany.
Sold for more than 100,000 euros each (not including bonds), these utilities promise a range of 400 kilometers to recharge in a few minutes.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates Stellantis’ commitment to investing in the most advanced technologies in France and to supporting low-carbon mobility,” Carlos Tavares was quoted as saying in the press release.
Sheltered from a shortage of semiconductors, the Hordain plant, one of three Stellantis utility plants in Europe, produced 144,650 vehicles in 2021.
Source: BFM TV
