Latest news with #Stellantis
Kuwait Times
41 minutes ago
- Automotive
- Kuwait Times
Stellantis pulls plug on hydrogen fuel cell vans
PARIS: Jeep-maker Stellantis said Wednesday it was pulling the plug on plans to build light vans using hydrogen fuel cells, saying it saw no prospects for it to be commercially viable. The company, whose stable of brands also includes Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat, had planned to begin serial production of commercial vans equipped with hydrogen fuel cells this summer at sites in northern France and southern Poland. 'The hydrogen market remains a niche segment, with no prospects of mid-term economic sustainability,' said Jean-Philippe Imparato, Stellantis's chief operating officer for the European region. The company cited limited availability of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, high capital requirements, and the need for stronger consumer purchasing incentives. 'We must make clear and responsible choices to ensure our competitiveness and meet the expectations of our customers with our electric and hybrid passenger and light commercial vehicles offensive,' Imparato added. Hydrogen fuel cell technology was seen as a possible rival to battery electric vehicles to reach zero emissions. When hydrogen and air are fed into a cell it creates electricity and water. The technology could offer faster refill times than recharging electric batteries, but also involves creating expensive new infrastructure and most hydrogen is currently produced from natural gas without capturing the greenhouse gas emissions. Only Toyota, Hyundai and BMW are still developing fuel cell vehicles and few models are on the roads. France's Renault shut its hydrogen fuel cell factory at the start of the year. Stellantis said staff at the factories would be reassigned to other tasks, but acknowledged the move would create 'financial challenges' for fuel cell supplier Symbio. Stellantis took a stake in Symbio in 2023 alongside tyre manufacturer Michelin and auto parts supplier Forvia. Symbio opened a fuel cell factory near the French city of Lyon in 2023. Stellantis said it had launched discussions with the other shareholders in Symbio, but Michelin called the announcement 'unexpected, brutal and uncoordinated'. Forvia noted that Stellantis accounts for nearly 80 percent of Symbio's activity. 'Stellantis's announcement will have serious and immediate operational and financial repercussions for the future of Symbio,' it said. – AFP
CTV News
an hour ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Stellantis discontinues hydrogen fuel cell program and van production
The Stellantis sign is seen outside the Chrysler Technology Center, Jan. 19, 2021, in Auburn Hills, Mich. Stellantis on April 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File) Carmaker Stellantis said on Wednesday it would discontinue its hydrogen fuel cell technology program and no longer launch hydrogen-powered vehicles this year, raising questions about the future of hydrogen subsidiary Symbio. The group said the decision was due to the limited availability of hydrogen refueling infrastructure, high capital requirements and the need for stronger purchase incentives for customers. 'The hydrogen market remains a niche segment, with no prospects of mid-term economic sustainability,' Jean-Philippe Imparato, chief operating officer for enlarged Europe, said in a statement. Car parts suppliers Michelin and Forvia said Stellantis' decision came as a surprise and would have 'serious operational and financial consequences' for Symbio, a joint venture in which Stellantis acquired a stake in 2023. Stellantis is its main customer, accounting for nearly 80% of Symbio's business volume, said Forvia. 'Michelin's primary concern lies with the impact this will have on Symbio's employees, both in France and abroad,' the tyremaker said in a statement. Symbio employs more than 650 people, according to its website. It opened a gigafactory in eastern France in 2023 as well as a new site in California. Stellantis said it has initiated discussions with Symbio shareholders to evaluate the current market consequences and to preserve the best interests of the joint venture, in line with their respective obligations. Imparato said the automaker had to 'make clear and responsible choices to ensure our competitiveness and meet the expectations of our customers with our electric and hybrid passenger and light commercial vehicles offensive.' The group said it did not anticipate the adoption of hydrogen cell vans before the end of the decade. Serial production of Stellantis' new Pro One range was scheduled to start in the summer in Hordain, in France, and Gliwice, in Poland. The decision will not affect staffing at Stellantis production sites, the group said. It said all research and development activities focused on the hydrogen technology would be redirected to other projects. (Reporting by Giulia Segreti, additional reporting by by Mathias de Rozario in Gdansk and Dominique Patton in Paris; Editing by Cristina Carlevaro, Tomasz Janowski and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Auto Blog
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Mopar Has Over A Thousand New Ways To Modify Your Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Or Chrysler
View post: Walmart is selling a 'heavy-duty' $429 rolling storage cabinet for $190, and shoppers love the 'quality and design' View post: Lamborghini Wants To Give The Temerario Something The Gallardo Balboni Was Famous For Mopar Just Made Modifications Much Easier Stellantis has just announced that its Mopar division is expanding the range of accessories available to Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles, with more than 1,000 newly available accessories on offer and more being regularly added from more than 40 supplying partners. 'We're partnering with our most trusted and popular suppliers to enhance convenience and accessory choice options for customers and dealers, providing a one-stop shop and sales experience,' said senior VP of Mopar North America, Darren Bradshaw. So what can buyers look forward to? Roof Rails, Suspension Lifts, And More The wide variety of accessories on the Mopar eStore includes things like a foldable cooler, floor liners, cargo bins, license plate frames, roof racks, roof boxes, racing stripes, stainless steel pedal covers, and lower suspension springs. Cat-back exhaust systems and cold air intake kits are also on offer for vehicles like the Durango, while off-roaders like the Jeep Gladiator and Wrangler benefit from upgrades like additional lighting systems, snorkel kits, tube doors, skid plates, and a Bilstein-based 2-inch lift kit. More aggressive bumpers, wheels, and fender flares are also on offer, while those who like to relax may be interested in an audio upgrade. Interestingly, Mopar has even added a couple of accessories for the all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona, though these are limited to things like floor mats, door sill guards, and charging cables. Dodge intended for the EV to be upgradeable using what it calls 'Power Crystals,' but with sales proving vastly underwhelming, it remains to be seen if there will be any demand for the extra power, especially with a gas model on the way. Personalization With Peace Of Mind If you're after something specific for your vehicle, it's worth browsing the extensive selection of accessories available for each model, because there's everything from rock sliders, dash cameras, and HitchFire grills to Tuffy Safes, bed caps, and various tents. Some of these installations will require more mechanical knowledge than others, but the best part of the Mopar program is that owners of new or old vehicles can have these enhancements ordered and fitted by their local dealer. 'The Mopar Affiliated Accessories program enhances customer experience by offering easy access to the most popular accessories that buyers crave,' according to Matt Godfrey, general sales manager at Golling Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram. 'We've seen a definite increase in the amount of upfits from the program, and at the end of the day, our dealership and our customers win with this one-stop-shop option.' Each supplier – Thule, AccuAir, Competition Specialties, et cetera – is responsible for the warranties on their respective accessories, but Mopar has reviewed each of them to ensure proper fitment. As Mopar-approved upfits, these parts shouldn't impact the vehicle warranty. About the Author Sebastian Cenizo View Profile
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
All UK car dealerships will STOP selling 10,000s of iconic brand's used models impacted by lethal airbag flaw
CAR dealers have been told to halt sales of a popular second-hand car amid severe safety concerns. It could affect tens of thousands of cars while they await an urgent recall to replace potentially lethal airbags. 3 Car dealerships have been told to halt sales of some Citroen models following a recall Credit: Getty 3 Some C3 and DS3 models were recalled after a fatal airbag explosion in France in June Credit: Getty Citroens's parent company Stellantis issued a Europe-wide 'stop-drive' order for two models beloved by motorists. Citroen DS3 models built between 2009 and 2019 and CS3 models built between 2009 and 2016 were Safety Concerns In June of this year, a French woman was killed following a crash as her airbag sent metal fragments into her face causing fatal injuries. The car's Takata airbag uses an explosive called ammonium nitrate in tablet form which can degrade into powder if it gets wet. Read more Motors This can then cause an "unstable, uncontrolled explosion" motoring expert Hugo Griffiths told the BBC. Instead of the explosion inflating the airbag at the end of the metal tube, it could cause the metal tube itself to explode sending shrapnel into the passengers. Recall Notice It led to a notice that owners of these models The order is thought to affect Most read in Motors To check whether the recall applies to you, drivers should enter the vehicle identification number on Citroen UK's recall page. You can then arrange a repair online or by calling their recall helpline. Legendary motor discontinued almost 50 years ago revived with retro design However, Not only does this put drivers at potential risk, but it could also invalidate their insurance. Now, A team of motor trade lawyers have It prevents the sale of the car until Citroen have replaced the faulty airbags. Existing owners of the models can book their vehicles in to be fixed, although there are concerns this could take several months. In the meantime, dealerships could be stuck with a number of unsellable, and undriveable vehicles. Industry insiders warned This Is Money that private owners could be prioritised over traders, potentially leaving dealers stuck with their Stellantis acknowledged that its customer care team and dealers "have been overwhelmed" by the number of requests to replace airbags. An investigation by Which? found that Auto Trader would flag adverts for cars impacted by the recall notice. There are currently around 1,000 of these affected vehicles on the site. If dealers were to continue selling the models, they would be in reach of consumer law. The General Product safety Regulations 2005 ensures that "a product with an outstanding safety recall should not be passed to a consumer." However, this might not apply to those who buy from private sellers as the responsibility is on the buyer to check for any relevant recalls. If a crash is then caused by a fault recorded in the safety recall, it could invalidate the driver's insurance. You could also face up to £2,500 in fines, get three penalty points and be banned from driving if you are caught driving a recalled car according to the DVSA. Spokesperson for Citroen says... "The replacement of airbags made by the supplier Takata affects many vehicles manufacturers including ourselves. "Vehicles of ours included in this new stop-drive action in the UK, were already part of an ongoing comprehensive recall campaign that started over one year ago, first in Southern Europe and then expanded northwards. "Recall decisions, especially stop-drive actions, are based on multiple factors, including airbag specifications, vehicle age and usage, climate conditions, and notifications from regulatory authorities. "The Company's focus remains on completing the replacement of airbags in affected vehicles as swiftly as possible. Our Citroen network is fully engaged in maximising the number of cars that can be completed every day and, to increase our repair capacity even further and minimise as much as possible the impact on customers, our Peugeot network is now authorised to replace airbags on these cars in addition to at home options. "It is inevitable, with such a large number of vehicles affected, that customers could be inconvenienced in the short term. "However, we are deploying a variety of options to support mobility, recognising that every driver will have individual requirements, and that priority needs to be given to customers with the most urgent needs. "Customers should check if their vehicle is affected and what actions are advised by using the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) check tool on the Citroën UK website. "If impacted, they should register their vehicle to enable the processing of their repair as soon as possible." Your product recall rights Chief consumer reporter James Flanders reveals all you need to know. Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods. As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action. But it's often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk. If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer's website to see if a safety notice has been issued. When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you - the customer - to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don't there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault. If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer. They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice. In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected. You should not be charged for any recall work - such as a repair, replacement or collection of the recalled item 3 Drivers could have to wait several months for a replacement airbag Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
All UK car dealerships will STOP selling 10,000s of iconic brand's used models impacted by lethal airbag flaw
The repairs could take months to be fixed SLAM THE BRAKES All UK car dealerships will STOP selling 10,000s of iconic brand's used models impacted by lethal airbag flaw Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CAR dealers have been told to halt sales of a popular second-hand car amid severe safety concerns. It could affect tens of thousands of cars while they await an urgent recall to replace potentially lethal airbags. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Car dealerships have been told to halt sales of some Citroen models following a recall Credit: Getty 3 Some C3 and DS3 models were recalled after a fatal airbag explosion in France in June Credit: Getty Citroens's parent company Stellantis issued a Europe-wide 'stop-drive' order for two models beloved by motorists. Citroen DS3 models built between 2009 and 2019 and CS3 models built between 2009 and 2016 were affected by the recall. Safety Concerns In June of this year, a French woman was killed following a crash as her airbag sent metal fragments into her face causing fatal injuries. The car's Takata airbag uses an explosive called ammonium nitrate in tablet form which can degrade into powder if it gets wet. This can then cause an "unstable, uncontrolled explosion" motoring expert Hugo Griffiths told the BBC. Instead of the explosion inflating the airbag at the end of the metal tube, it could cause the metal tube itself to explode sending shrapnel into the passengers. Recall Notice It led to a notice that owners of these models should stop driving them until the problem is resolved. The order is thought to affect 120,000 drivers. To check whether the recall applies to you, drivers should enter the vehicle identification number on Citroen UK's recall page. You can then arrange a repair online or by calling their recall helpline. Legendary motor discontinued almost 50 years ago revived with retro design However, This Is Money reported that these models were still being sold second-hand with no mention of the safety notice. Not only does this put drivers at potential risk, but it could also invalidate their insurance. Now, dealerships have been ordered to stop selling the C3 and DS3 models. A team of motor trade lawyers have issued the suspension on sales of C3 and DS3 models from 2009 to 2019. It prevents the sale of the car until Citroen have replaced the faulty airbags. Existing owners of the models can book their vehicles in to be fixed, although there are concerns this could take several months. In the meantime, dealerships could be stuck with a number of unsellable, and undriveable vehicles. Industry insiders warned This Is Money that private owners could be prioritised over traders, potentially leaving dealers stuck with their faulty cars until 2026. Stellantis acknowledged that its customer care team and dealers "have been overwhelmed" by the number of requests to replace airbags. An investigation by Which? found that Auto Trader would flag adverts for cars impacted by the recall notice. There are currently around 1,000 of these affected vehicles on the site. If dealers were to continue selling the models, they would be in reach of consumer law. The General Product safety Regulations 2005 ensures that "a product with an outstanding safety recall should not be passed to a consumer." However, this might not apply to those who buy from private sellers as the responsibility is on the buyer to check for any relevant recalls. If a crash is then caused by a fault recorded in the safety recall, it could invalidate the driver's insurance. You could also face up to £2,500 in fines, get three penalty points and be banned from driving if you are caught driving a recalled car according to the DVSA. Spokesperson for Citroen says... "The replacement of airbags made by the supplier Takata affects many vehicles manufacturers including ourselves. "Vehicles of ours included in this new stop-drive action in the UK, were already part of an ongoing comprehensive recall campaign that started over one year ago, first in Southern Europe and then expanded northwards. "Recall decisions, especially stop-drive actions, are based on multiple factors, including airbag specifications, vehicle age and usage, climate conditions, and notifications from regulatory authorities. "The Company's focus remains on completing the replacement of airbags in affected vehicles as swiftly as possible. Our Citroen network is fully engaged in maximising the number of cars that can be completed every day and, to increase our repair capacity even further and minimise as much as possible the impact on customers, our Peugeot network is now authorised to replace airbags on these cars in addition to at home options. "It is inevitable, with such a large number of vehicles affected, that customers could be inconvenienced in the short term. "However, we are deploying a variety of options to support mobility, recognising that every driver will have individual requirements, and that priority needs to be given to customers with the most urgent needs. "Customers should check if their vehicle is affected and what actions are advised by using the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) check tool on the Citroën UK website. "If impacted, they should register their vehicle to enable the processing of their repair as soon as possible." Your product recall rights Chief consumer reporter James Flanders reveals all you need to know. Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods. As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action. But it's often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk. If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer's website to see if a safety notice has been issued. When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you - the customer - to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don't there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault. If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer. They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice. In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected. You should not be charged for any recall work - such as a repair, replacement or collection of the recalled item
