Stellantis, Toyota Expand with New Large Commercial Van

Stellantis N.V. and Toyota Motor Europe N.V. (TME) yesterday  announced the expansion of their existing partnership with an agreement for a new large-size commercial van, including a battery electric version. The new vehicle marks the third body type under the agreement, completing a full LCV line-up, with compact-, mid- and now a large-size LCV. (AutoInformed>Stellantis and Samsung SDI JV to Build EV Batteries in Kokomo; Stellantis to Repay Early €6.3B Fiat Credit Facility)

Stellantis and TME’s collaboration started in 2012 with the Toyota’s mid-size LCV produced at Stellantis’ Hordain plant in France, followed in 2019 by a compact-size LCV segment, produced at Stellantis’ plant in Vigo, Spain. The large-size LCV announcement allows Toyota to complete a full LCV line-up in Europe. It also – as many such emerging agreements do – offsets the ruinous development and production costs of the ongoing electrification of offerings demanded by governments and customers.

Stellantis will supply TME with the new large-size commercial van for sale in Europe under the Toyota brand. The new vehicle will be produced at Stellantis’ plants in Gliwice, Poland and Atessa, Italy. Planned for mid-2024, the new large-size commercial van marks TME’s first entry into the large-size commercial vehicle segment.

Stellantis

Stellantis N.V. (NYSE / MTA / Euronext Paris: STLA) is one of the world’s major automakers. Its brands include Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat*, Jeep®, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall, Free2move and Leasys. Stellantis has announced plans to have global annual battery electric vehicle sales of five million vehicles by 2030, reaching 100% of passenger car BEV sales mix in Europe and 50% passenger car and light-duty truck BEV sales mix in North America.

Stellantis also increased planned battery capacity by 140 GWh to approximately 400 GWh, to be supported by five battery manufacturing plants together with additional supply contracts. This announcement is part of the long-term electrification strategy to invest $35 billion (€30 billion) through 2025 in electrification and software globally.

*Fiat has announced the removal of all non-electrified vehicles from sale in the UK. This will take effect from 1st July 2022 with the whole Fiat range now coming in electrified forms, from hybrids to fully-electric.