Stellantis is incorporating technologies from suppliers Toyota-backed Blue Nexus and Bosch into its newest hybrid SUVs as the carmaker reassesses its electric vehicle (EV) strategy.
According to CNBC’s report, the company’s first hybrid Jeep SUV for the North American market, the recently introduced Cherokee, uses a hybrid system developed by Blue Nexus.
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Future extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) from Stellantis will also depend on key technology provided by Bosch, the German automotive supplier.
The Jeep Cherokee features Blue Nexus’s two-motor electric continuously variable hybrid transmission.
Stellantis plans to adopt a different hybrid architecture for the forthcoming Jeep Grand Wagoneer EREV.
The company also intends to introduce the EREV system in Ram pickup trucks.
The Cherokee operates as a conventional hybrid vehicle, similar to Toyota models such as the Prius.
By contrast, the EREV configuration enables vehicles to run entirely on electric power until the battery charge is depleted.
When that happens, an internal combustion engine activates to function as a generator, producing electricity for the motors rather than driving the wheels directly.
Sources cited by CNBC said both hybrid systems incorporate Stellantis engines and have been integrated to meet the company’s performance and driving dynamics requirements.
In recent years, automakers including Stellantis have invested substantial amounts in developing fully electric vehicles, encouraged by regulatory pressures and expectations of rising consumer demand.
However, some companies have begun adjusting those strategies as development costs climb.
Last month, Stellantis disclosed $26bn in charges related to its EV initiatives.
In December last year, Ford Motor announced $19.5bn in special charges as it scales back EV investments, while General Motors reported a $7.6bn write-down tied to adjustments in its EV strategy.
