For Malaysians it will start with new battery powered Peugeots from Stellantis.
By now you should know that Stellantis is the name of the automotive group which was formed very recently with the combination of the FIAT Chrysler Group and the PSA Group. This is now the fourth largest automotive group in the world.
For the tree-hugger and the clean air environmentalist in Malaysia, this signals the possible arrival of affordable battery powered vehicles for middle and lower middle class Malaysians.
Fiat has not been represented in Malaysia for almost 12 years and this is good opportunity for Stellantis to set-up a regional office in Malaysia looking after ASEAN. The all-new Fiat 500 which was launched in March 2020 will make a good market introduction for the brand with its 42-kWh lithium-ion battery and an 85-kW fast charger.
With an output of 87 kW, this new 500 delivers acceleration from 0-62 mph in 9.0 seconds and 0-31 mph in only 3.1 seconds. This new 500 offers level 2 autonomous driving that includes intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (iACC) and Lane Centering.
Jeep in Malaysia after its official departure in 2018 is now represented by a private importer and with the 2020 model Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Compass 4xe models carrying small capacity petrol engines with hybrid powertrains, Stellantis should be able to attract enough attention to the brand.
The Wrangler 4xe’s plug-in hybrid powertrain is capable of up to 25 miles of nearly silent, zero-emission, electric-only propulsion, making it commuter friendly as an all-electric daily driver without range anxiety and the most capable and eco-friendly Jeep vehicle off-road, combined with the open-air freedom that only Jeep Wrangler offers.
Lets not forget the award winning Peugeot e-208. Now with a new brand guardian in Malaysia, Berjaya Auto Alliance, there could be local assembly for this fully electric Peugeot compact hatch which features a 50kWh battery connected to a 100kW (136hp) electric motor which is capable of providing a driving distance of up to 217 miles WLTP from a single charge.
Supporting up to 100kW rapid charging, an 80 per cent charge can be completed in just 30 minutes (please check charging system needed for this) which makes it an ideal vehicle for middle class Malaysians to embrace battery powered motoring.
PRESS RELEASE: Stellantis is a truly global company of 400,000 diverse, highly talented and experienced employees who design, develop, manufacture, distribute, and sell vehicles and mobility solutions around the world while remaining deeply rooted in the communities in which they live and work.
The 11-member Board of Directors is led by Chairman John Elkann. Carlos Tavares as Chief Executive Officer leads one of the most experienced and successful management teams in the industry whose diversity, experience and competitive spirit are amongst its key strengths. With a deep bench of executive talent relentlessly committed to improvement and innovation, Stellantis is well-positioned to continue its founding companies’ track record of value creation for all stakeholders guided by a common principle: challenge the status quo.
With a proud heritage stretching back 125 years, Stellantis is home to a full portfolio of storied brands that have graced the road and conquered the podium in the world of motorsport. Founded by visionaries who infused these marques with passion and a competitive spirit, the brands cover the full spectrum of market segments from luxury, premium and mainstream passenger vehicles to hard-charging pickup trucks, SUVs and light commercial vehicles, as well as dedicated mobility, finance and parts and service brands.
Stellantis already has a well-established presence in three regions – Europe, North America and Latin America – in addition to significant untapped potential in important markets such as China, Africa, the Middle East, Oceania and India. With industrial operations in more than 30 countries, the Company has the ability to efficiently meet and exceed consumer expectations and deliver vehicles and services of unparalleled quality in more than 130 markets.
Stellantis starts from a position of considerable strength with robust operating margins reflecting the Company’s leading positions in North America, Europe and Latin America. The Company expects to leverage its size and economies of scale as an enabler to invest in innovative mobility solutions for its customers, targeting annual synergies of more than €5 billion at a steady state. These synergy estimates will be achieved through the implementation of smart purchasing and investment strategies, optimizing powertrain and platform utilization, applying cutting-edge R&D and a continuous focus on manufacturing and tooling efficiencies. These synergy estimates are not based on any plant closures resulting from the transaction.
Nine Governance Committees will ensure an efficient operating structure from Day One, including company-wide performance & strategy, planning, regions, manufacturing, brand and styling.
Stellantis’ portfolio is uniquely suited to offer distinctive, sustainable mobility solutions to meet its customers’ evolving needs, as they embrace electrification, connectivity, autonomous driving and shared ownership. As the electrified market continues to grow, Stellantis is well positioned today with 29 electrified models available and plans to introduce ten additional vehicles by the end of this year.
The Company is strongly committed to playing an active part in contributing to the societies in which it operates, as it works towards achieving a long-term goal of carbon neutrality across all products, assembly plants and other facilities.
