Stellantis
After the first phase of experimentation for level 3 autonomous driving, the results of the tests carried out by the car manufacturer Stellantis in the four years of the European project L3Pilot were disseminated. In fact, the same company aims at the large-scale development of these autonomous driving technologies by starting the new four-year Hi-Drive project aimed at spreading more advanced levels of automated driving.Not surprisingly, L3Pilot is an inevitably important initiative for the development and therefore for the future of autonomous driving, aimed at testing this safe and efficient technology even in real traffic conditions.
In detail, the project saw a number of 70 cars equipped with automated driving function in 14 pilot sites and seven countries, 750 professional drivers, experts in SAE Level 3 functions, 400,000 km traveled on motorways and 24,000 km traveled in urban scenarios. , of which 22,200 km in automated mode and 1800 km traveled as a reference.
Stellantis' participation in the L3Pilot project and the fundamental role played in the pilot phase clearly demonstrate its commitment to the development of autonomous driving technologies, commented Harald Wester, Chief Engineering Officer of Stellantis.
During the pilot phase, the Stellantis prototypes were put to the test in different driving situations, including parking, overtaking on the motorway, crossing urban intersections and close-range scenarios.
We believe these international projects, conducted on a large scale and with the involvement of many partners, are extremely important to ensure customers that autonomous technologies are safe and reliable before market introduction; are integral to our customer-centric end-to-end software strategy, said Yves Bonnefont, Stellantis Chief Software Officer.
We reiterate that at SAE Level 3, the driver does not have to constantly monitor the driving situation but must, however, regain control as soon as the system requests it.
Stellantis and Samsung SDI will open a Lithium-ion battery factory in North America [Update]
Amsterdam-headquartered global auto manufacturer Stellantis and South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution announced a joint venture on October 18 to produce battery cells and modules for North America. Now Stellantis has today announced yet another battery production partnership, with Samsung SDI.
October 22 update: Stellantis today announced that it has entered into yet another memo of understanding, this time with Samsung SDI, to form a joint venture to produce battery cells and modules for North America.
This new battery factory is targeted to start production in 2025. The plant aims to have an initial annual production capacity of 23 gigawatt hours, with the ability to increase up to 40 gigawatt hours in the future.
The location of the new facility is currently under review, and further details will be announced at a later date.
Stellantis and LG Energy Solution, which signed a memorandum of understanding, will together establish a new battery manufacturing factory. The location of that factory is not yet determined, but the groundbreaking for the facility is expected to happen in the second quarter of 2022.
They intend to launch the factory by the first quarter of 2024, and their goal is for the factory to have an annual production capacity of 40 gigawatt hours.
The two companies have been working together on electrifying vehicles since 2014, when LG Energy Solution (then LG Chem) was selected by Stellantis (then Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) to supply the lithium-ion battery pack system and controls for the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, the only plug-in hybrid minivan in the US.
Stellantis, which was created out of the merger between Fiat Chrysler and the PSA Group, is the sixth-largest automaker worldwide. It designs, develops, manufactures, and sells cars bearing its 15 car brands: Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, and Vauxhall, as well as Mopar auto parts.
The batteries produced at the new facility will be supplied to Stellantis assembly plants throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico for installation in next-generation EVs.
Stellantis is aiming for its US sales to consist of more than 40% electric vehicles by 2030, and plans to invest more than €30 billion ($34.8 billion) through 2025 in electrification and software development.
Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, said:
Today’s announcement is further proof that we are deploying our aggressive electrification road map and are following through on the commitments we made during our EV Day event in July.
With this, we have now determined the next ‘gigafactory’ coming to the Stellantis portfolio to help us achieve a total minimum of 260 gigawatt hours of capacity by 2030.
Stellantis and LG Energy’s new battery factory is a positive step for a company in need of acceleration of its electrification plans. (And so is Stellantis’ partnership with Samsung SDI.)
Stellantis’ goal of 40% electric vehicles by 2030 is pretty weak, so we hope to see the car giant increase that goal in the next couple years – especially seeing how it’ll have its own “gigafactory.”
This is also a boost for the US auto industry, with a battery factory landing in North America, thanks to Dutch and South Korean headquartered companies.
Read more: Stellantis unveils new electrification plans across all brands with new EVs with up to 500-mile range
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