The automaker is making its most significant commitment yet to adding electric vehicles to its lineup, starting with new Jeep plug-in hybrids.
Fiat Chrysler plans a major ramp-up of production for its two best-selling brands, Jeep and Ram, by adding a new assembly plant in Detroit as part of a $4.5 billion investment program announced last week.
As part of last week's announcement, Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley said the investments will allow the carmaker to pursue new opportunities,"including at least four plug-in hybrid vehicles and the flexibility to produce fully battery-electric vehicles." For one thing, Manley is making it clear that Fiat Chrysler will design future products to use a broad range of powertrains, from gas and diesel engines to mild,"conventional" and plug-in hybrids, as well as pure battery-electric drivetrains.
But last week's news suggests that Fiat Chrysler is now starting to see more opportunities in the U.S., as well as other markets. If nothing else, said Abuelsamid, it has recognized that the competition will be driving the push to electrify as much as regulators. "As they move Jeep up-market, in order to stay competitive in that segment, they need, at the least, plug-in hybrids and there's increasing likelihood they'll need battery-electric versions, too," said Abuelsamid.
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