Stellantis will make investments 160 million euros ($176 million) to organize its manufacturing unit in Rennes, western France, to construct the following Citroen compact SUV, which will likely be largely offered as a full-electric car when it’s launched in 2025, the automaker mentioned.
Stellantis will use the funding to arrange a battery meeting workshop in addition to one devoted to plastic injection molding, it mentioned in an announcement, including that the car’s launch will occur on the long run STLA Medium platform. The molding space will likely be used for entrance and rear modules, Stellantis mentioned.
The automotive, code-named CR3, will succeed the present C5 Aircross, which presents gasoline, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Stellantis in November 2021 introduced it might make investments 152 million euros within the manufacturing unit forward of the brand new mannequin, as a part of a plan to spice up EV manufacturing in France.
Stellantis plans to promote solely electrical automobiles in Europe by 2030.
Requested whether or not the brand new car can be accessible as something aside from a full-electric mannequin, CEO Carlos Tavares informed the press on Thursday: “In precept, no.” The STLA Medium platform can settle for internal-combustion powertrains.
The manufacturing unit presently builds the Citroen C5 Aircross and the Peugeot 5008 midsize SUV. Each fashions entered manufacturing in 2017; the C5 Aircross is accessible as a plug-in hybrid, whereas the 5008 doesn’t have any electrified choices.
The 5008 is due to get replaced within the subsequent 18 months, together with the smaller 3008 compact. Its successor is anticipated to be constructed at Stellantis’ manufacturing unit in Sochaux, japanese France, with the 3008.
The Rennes facility dates to 1960, when it was arrange by Citroen. Peugeot fashions had been added within the 2000s, together with the 407, 508 and the 5008, which entered manufacturing in 2017. It has an annual capability of about 100,000 automobiles, and about 2,300 workers. Final 12 months it produced about 73,000 automobiles.
Reuters contributed to this report