Chrysler, formerly one of the world’s leading automakers, announced Wednesday it would transform into an all-electric company by 2028.
The Chrysler Airflow, a new crossover concept shown online for the CES consumer technology exhibition in Las Vegas, is the first step in those plans. According to Chrysler CEO Christine Feuell, the tech-savvy concept automobile is “a reference” to a vehicle that the company wants to sell in 2025.
According to her, the undisclosed production crossover will be the first of at least two or three new all-electric cars planned by 2028, including a minivan. According to Feuell, Chrysler will be at the vanguard of Stellantis’ $35.5 billion electric vehicle aspirations.
We needed to make sure that we were establishing differences within the Stellantis portfolio as well as compared to the competition when it came to redefining and revitalizing the Chrysler brand, she told CNBC in an online interview. “Once we launch our first new product, we’ll add one new product per year… and increase that lineup between then and 2028.”
Stellantis was created in January when Fiat Chrysler and PSA, an Italian-American carmaker, merged. Chrysler, Jeep, Fiat, and Peugeot are among its 14 brands, all of which have former significance in their own countries.
Re-Energizing Chrysler
Stellantis’ plans for Chrysler to become an electric vehicle brand in the United States are the latest in a series of efforts to resurrect the almost century-old automaker, which has struggled to gain traction since its namesake parent company went bankrupt in 2009.
Since eliminating a midsize car in 2016, the company has only provided a minivan and a big sedan, missing out on the current development of crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks. Aside from a plug-in hybrid electric version of its Pacifica minivan, it has been slow to accept EVs.
The new transformation plan, according to Feuell, focuses on electric vehicles as well as new technology, enhanced design, and user customization, all of which are areas where automakers are focused on tech-savvy buyers. “What customers are seeking for in terms of seamless connectivity and combining their personal digital life with their mobile digital life is extremely vital,” Feuell added. “That is easy and intuitive with the capacity to customize every location within the vehicle, regardless of whether it’s a driver or a passenger,” the concept goes.
STLA Brain Software
In addition to large screens lining the interior, Chrysler’s Airflow concept is the first vehicle to feature Stellantis’ new STLA Brain software suite and STLA SmartCockpit. This vehicle has some similarities to Stellantis’ advanced products, especially its large screens, such as the Jeep Grand Wagoneer SUV.
The crossover’s exterior has a revised “Chrysler Wing” insignia connected into a cross-car grille and LED light blade, as well as a new design direction for Chrysler. A full-width LED tail light also runs the length of the car.
“Our design theme communicates the direction we want Chrysler to reach, from the elegance of its design to its dynamic stance,” Feuell said. According to Chrysler- the Airflow and the upcoming production car would have a range of 350 to 400 miles on a single charge. The business wouldn’t say how much the Airflow-based vehicle will cost in 2025, but Feuell did say that the “sweet spot for EVs overall is between $35,000 and $60,000.”