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Stellantis CEO Has Doubts About Widespread EV Adoption

One-Size-Fits-All Approach To EVs May Not Be Suitable For Every Part Of The World...

Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, has raised significant doubts regarding the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) during his remarks at the 2024 Freedom of Mobility Forum, yesterday. Tavares expressed concerns that a one-size-fits-all approach to EVs may not be suitable for every part of the world, emphasizing the need to move away from dogmatic thinking.

Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavares and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Paris Motor Show. (Stellantis).

“In a diverse world, it’s essential to acknowledge that current EVs may not cater to the needs of every society,” Tavares stated. He highlighted the challenges associated with EV batteries, emphasizing the necessity for a breakthrough in battery chemistry to significantly reduce weight and raw material usage over the next decade.

Tavares pointed out the environmental implications of the substantial amount of raw materials required for current battery packs, noting that it is not a sustainable outcome. He stressed the urgency for the industry to achieve a breakthrough in power density, aiming to cut the weight and raw material usage of EVs by at least 50%.

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares behind the wheel of the GranTurismo Folgore. (Maserati).

“We need a significant breakthrough in battery chemistry to address the weight and material concerns,” Tavares explained. “Putting an additional 1,000 pounds of raw materials in an EV for a decent range is not sustainable.”

Tavares also addressed the challenges of EV adoption in less developed nations, citing issues such as limited access to electricity and unstable power grids. 

Peugeot e-Expert Hydrogen. (Peugeot).

Moreover, Tavares expressed skepticism regarding hydrogen as a viable alternative for mass mobility due to its high cost, especially for ordinary citizens. He suggested that, for the foreseeable future, hydrogen may only be feasible for fleets of big corporations rather than individual consumers.

“I’m afraid that, for the time being, affordability is going to be a major showstopper for hydrogen,” he said. “For the near future, it’s [possibly] going to be a solution for fleets of big corporations, but certainly not for normal citizens.”

Robert S. Miller

Robert S. Miller is a diehard Mopar enthusiast who lives and breathes all that is Mopar. The Michigander is not only the Editor for MoparInsiders.com, 5thGenRams.com, and HDRams.com but an automotive photographer. He is an avid fan of offshore powerboat racing, which he travels the country to take part in.

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He’s contradicting himself.
We see brands trying or planning to fully transition to EV only. Fiat, Maserati, Alfa, Chrysler even some models like Wrangler.

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Travares is paid big bucks, a smart guy, no surprise he has figured this out, all electric can not and will not succeed. Problem is weak leadership that crumbled in the face of extremists in government and the mainstream media rather than market experts and engineering experts who if honest, knew the truth.
There is a place in the auto business for electric vehicles, but plain and simple, the product is not perfected, the electric infrastructure can not support it and the product is unattainable and inaccessible to a majority of the worlds population.
It takes guts to admit your mistakes, and Stellantis, in its lust to beat the competition to an all electric imposed future went “all in” and when reality and market forces which historically is a natural economic free market process kicked in, the bottom dropped out on this nonsense. Reality check time!
Stellantis still has a small window of opportunity to get this right. NEVER, EVER designate any brand as all electric. Utilize the current STLA adaptable platforms to offer full hybrids choice with gas supported and plug in engines and fully gas engines in every brand. The market and reality has spoken.
If the Wagoneer S and the Recon and anything from Chrysler is launched without at least a hybrid option, in spite of Travares having this late inning epiphany, it spells real trouble for these models and potential risk to the whole brand. Ford has reversed course, so should Stellantis, and Carlos knows this clearly. Save the company and ditch electric as fast as possible.

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Problem is weak leadership that crumbled in the face of extremists in government and the mainstream media rather than market experts and engineering experts who if honest, knew the truth.

You overlooked a weaponized banking system and activist stock holders. The Japanese brands stood up to this insanity and paid a price. The Toyota boss was forced to step down from some of his corporate activities while woke banks and stock holders were making threats. There was a steady drumbeat of negative propaganda from media pundits saying, "Toyota is a backwards company run by a bunch of Luddites." " The company is going down and will be the next Kodak." Tesla and the new EV startups were booming. This all peaked last year. What a difference one sales quarter makes. This isn't the place to discuss the sales of hybrid vehicles from the Japanese brands during last quarter. People will have to look up the details and compare them to the Tesla results themselves.

I'm paid peanuts, plus I'm not the brightest bulb in the lamp, but I knew this "one size fits all" panacea isn't going to work a long time ago.

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Travares is paid big bucks, a smart guy, no surprise he has figured this out, all electric can not and will not succeed. Problem is weak leadership that crumbled in the face of extremists in government and the mainstream media rather than market experts and engineering experts who if honest, knew the truth.
There is a place in the auto business for electric vehicles, but plain and simple, the product is not perfected, the electric infrastructure can not support it and the product is unattainable and inaccessible to a majority of the worlds population.
It takes guts to admit your mistakes, and Stellantis, in its lust to beat the competition to an all electric imposed future went “all in” and when reality and market forces which historically is a natural economic free market process kicked in, the bottom dropped out on this nonsense. Reality check time!
Stellantis still has a small window of opportunity to get this right. NEVER, EVER designate any brand as all electric. Utilize the current STLA adaptable platforms to offer full hybrids choice with gas supported and plug in engines and fully gas engines in every brand. The market and reality has spoken.
If the Wagoneer S and the Recon and anything from Chrysler is launched without at least a hybrid option, in spite of Travares having this late inning epiphany, it spells real trouble for these models and potential risk to the whole brand. Ford has reversed course, so should Stellantis, and Carlos knows this clearly. Save the company and ditch electric as fast as possible.

Clearly you don't pay attention, but it is complete Bull$#it to state "late inning epiphany" when the all the Stellantis underpinnings are multi-energy.
Stellantis plans outside of Chrysler brand was never Complete EV in North America.
However you are gaslighting me & others claiming Ford is some how ahead, maybe in a fantasy of an old man who wishes the broke & burst Chrysler Corporation was still around .

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Gaslighting, not my intent, perhaps a difference of opinion. Sure I’m aware of the plans for North America and the 50% goal, but even that is unattainable as the rest of Stellantis goes whole hog on electric. I would never accuse you of being uninformed, but if you follow the flurry of mergers and investments in various battery and electric technology companies by Stellantis, is it not a anxiety level of money spending for the obvious purpose of market domination ? I see it that way. Not sure about comment on Ford, but they just walked away from electric investment, research and production as billion dollar loses for rejected electric vehicles are happening and further projected just last week. I call that a major shift in policy, one Stellantis should emulate ASAP. Just my thoughts but clearly not an attempt for any preconceived purpose to deceive anyone. Maybe just inform.

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