Stellantis will showcase the electric Chrysler Airflow concept on January 5th at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). By unveiling this the company’s EV strategy will be out for the following electric lineup in upcoming years. The concept was first teased by the company as part of a sweeping electrification plan presented in July, along with a Dodge muscle car and a fully electric Ram 1500 pickup truck.
The Airflow name dates back to 1934. The original Chrysler Airflow (actually a family of models) was the first production car designed for low aerodynamic drag using a wind tunnel. That gave it distinctive streamlined styling, which didn’t suit the tastes of most buyers at the time. Chrysler quickly restyled the Airflow, then dropped it completely after 1937.
While it was a sales dud, the Airflow’s emphasis on aerodynamics, as well its all-steel construction, set the tone for future cars. Given the importance of a low drag coefficient for maximizing efficiency and range, the Airflow also seems like an appropriate reference for an EV. This will be the second recent Airflow concept. Chrysler also used the name for the Airflow Vision unveiled at CES in 2020. Stellantis claims a total of four platforms for EVs under development, offering up to 500 miles of range and claiming up to 4.3 kWh/mile efficiency.
Joint venture with LG Energy
A memorandum of understanding between the two companies calls for a factory to produce battery cells and modules, which will be supplied to Stellantis assembly plants in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It was announced by Stellantis in October this year. Stellantis and LG are targeting first-quarter 2024 for the start of battery production, with an annual production capacity of 40 GWh.
A location hasn’t been finalized, but groundbreaking for the battery plant is scheduled for the second quarter of 2022. Stellantis hasn’t confirmed that the factory will be located in the U.S., and it’s worth noting that a Canadian or Mexican site could also suit its needs. Stellantis has its own battery venture for Europe, with Mercedes-Benz recently joining, but this new announcement answers where cells and modules for EVs produced in the U.S. are likely to come from. Products using those components so far include an all-electric Jeep (following the 4xe plug-in hybrids), an electric Ram 1500 pickup truck, and an electric Dodge muscle car. Chrysler’s only current plug-in vehicle is the Pacifica Hybrid minivan. Also available with a conventional gasoline powertrain, the Pacifica (along with the Voyager sub-model) itself makes up one of half of Chrysler’s current lineup, alongside the 300 sedans.
Credits- Green Car Reports
