Wow, thank you so much for the detailed reply.The four STLA architectures are for passenger vehicles; Large LCVs and special-purpose models like Wrangler will continue to get their own.
Ducato is already on its own architecture, shared with PSA vehicles. Its lineage goes back to the mid-1970s FIAT 240/Citroën C35. What will most likely happen regarding electrification is that FCA’s in-house process will be used to electrify the PSA branded models (PSA used an external retrofitting company to produce its EV models). ProMaster EV is coming soon, but if it’s like Ducato, it’ll be sold to big logistics fleet operators first.
As far as I can see, STLA Frame is for body-on-frame construction, which would be far too heavy and space-inefficient for this application. I can’t stress how important unladen weight and usable volume is in this class. On weight, particularly, driver licensing across the EU only allows drivers to operate a vehicle of up to 3.5 tonnes (7800 lb) gross weight on a normal car licence. Some countries extend this to limit to 5 tonnes (11000lb), but above that weight, you need to sit a separate test. Because of this, van fleet operators want something that’s under 3.5 tonnes gross (so that anyone with a driving licence can operate it), but with as much of that weight devoted to cargo as humanly possible. A body-on-frame design means losing 2-300kg of payload and hundreds of litres of cargo space.
The mid-size van, Talento (not offered in the USA) most likely will be replaced with a product on STLA Medium. After all, EMP1 is the basis of PSA’s mid-size vans: Peugeot Expert, Opel Vivaro, Toyota ProAce, Citroen Jumpy/Dispatch. (Yes, Toyota. Joint-ventures and outsourced production are the rule in the European LCV market). In 2020, Renault said it would terminate its contract with FCA for the FIAT Talento, so that Talento replacement will come fairly soon.
Regarding Fiorino, that’s another van that’s already shared with PSA brands. Currently, it’s based on the old FIAT Punto (SCCS, the predecessor of Small Wide) and built by the Tofaş in Turkey. A future BEV model could conceivably be built off CMP, but I think it’s more likely to be something developed from the FCA eMini platform used by 500e (the dimensions and other specifications for STLA Small shown in the Stellantis BEV day presentations match eMINI, but not CMP/EMP1).
I now understand the situation much better.
