Stellantis will boost its hybrid vehicle offering in Europe, the group’s management said on Tuesday, as sales of electric vehicles are falling. New Citroën C3, Peugeot 3008, Alfa Romeo Junior: the group will have 30 hybrid models on sale by 2024 and plans to launch six new ones by 2026.
“They complement the electric range for people who do not want to go straight to 100% electric,” said Christian Müller, head of powertrains for Stellantis in the Europe-Middle East-Africa region.
Hybrid cars (petrol and diesel with electric motors, which cannot be plugged into a charging station) were the only category to make progress in Europe in May (+16.2% year-on-year), while electric and other motors fell, according to figures published by manufacturers. Their market share reaches almost 30% and it is especially the pioneer Toyota that benefits from this success with its hybrid Yaris made in France.
Replacing thermal cars with hybrid models in sales
At Stellantis, hybrid sales increased by 41% in the first five months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This does not mean, however, that the group is giving up on its electrification objectives, still aiming for 100% electric sales in Europe by 2030, stressed Christian Müller.
Hybrids are expected to replace a “large part” of petrol and diesel cars in sales, despite their average price being 2,000 euros higher, the engineer stressed. Their small 0.9 kWH battery allows them to travel up to a kilometre without using the internal combustion engine, for an average consumption and emissions up to 20% lower than those of a conventional engine, according to Stellantis. If, therefore, the advantage is limited in terms of consumption and ecology, they can be used as internal combustion vehicles, with no limit on their autonomy. Compact models, but also larger cars, such as the Jeep Compass and the Citroën C5 Aircross, will be equipped with these engines.
The group can produce up to 1.2 million “eDCT” hybrid engines per year at its factories in Metz (eastern France) and Turin (Italy), for 1.9 million cars sold in total by 2023. And 70% of the factories are equipped to produce vehicles regardless of their energy, and group boss Carlos Tavares advocates great flexibility to adapt to demand.
Source: BFM TV
