Chrysler’s top executive on Jan. 5 said the storied automaker will transition to an all-electric vehicle portfolio by 2028 and unveiled its Airflow Concept to preview some of the design and technology elements it will lean on.
Speaking at CES 2022, CEO Chris Feuell said Chrysler, one of the 14 brands under the Stellantis umbrella, will launch its first battery-electric vehicle in 2025 and then quickly transition the rest of its lineup to EV models.
“Chrysler is an iconic American automotive brand, with a heritage in creating new advanced technologies and product segments,” Feuell said. “Our brand will serve at the forefront as Stellantis transforms to deliver clean mobility and connected customer experiences.”
Feuell’s CES talk came on the heels of Stellantis executives announcing that the company has signed a wide-ranging agreement with Amazon to collaborate on software and other technology services – Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares and his team last month said they expect the company to bring in some $22 billion in revenues from software by 2030 – and that the giant retailer has signed on to be the first commercial customer for the electric Ram ProMaster delivery van EV, which is scheduled to launch next year. The companies said the long-term agreement calls for Amazon to put “thousands” of electric ProMasters on the road annually.
The new generation of Chrysler Airflow vehicles – the company first used the Airflow name in the 1930s – will use the STLA Autodrive autonomous driving systems and be powered by two 150 kW electric drive motors. The vehicles’ batteries are expected to have a range of 350 to 400 miles.
Chrysler’s plans to go fully electric are part of Stellantis’ $35 billion-through-2025 investment in electrification that has among its goals to have electrics account for at least 40% of U.S. sales by 2030. The holding company is among many industry players dedicating billions to make the transition to electric power; also on Jan. 5, General Motors CEO Mary Barra said her team will begin cranking out electric Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks and Equinox sport utility vehicles for the 2024 model year.
