Stellantis & Toyota to cooperate on large transporter
Stellantis and Toyota have announced an expansion of their partnership to include a new large van for European markets, scheduled for mid-2024, which will also have a battery-electric version.
Although Stellantis does not confirm it directly, it is likely to be the successor to the current generation Ducato. The Ducato and its sister models are still based on a model launched in 2006, with a major model update in 2014. Since 2020, there has also been the e-Ducato, which is offered with two battery sizes (47 or 79 kWh).
Technical details about the new generation are not yet known. Stellantis only confirms in the announcement that the vehicles (including the Toyota version) will be produced in the Stellantis plants in Gliwice, Poland, and Atessa, Italy. It is possible, but not confirmed, that the vehicles will be based on the STLA Frame platform. According to the announcement, the ladder-frame electric platform is intended for large SUVs, pickups and commercial vehicles. However, significantly larger batteries are envisaged there – smaller and cheaper batteries are usually sufficient for current e-delivery vehicles for last-mile logistics.
For Toyota Motor Europe, the new model will be a premiere: until now, the Japanese company has not offered a large van here yet. The model in the segment colloquially known as the “Sprinter class” will be the third body version from the partnership with Stellantis: as reported, the two companies already cooperate on the Toyota models Proace (Electric) and Proace Verso (Electric), which are based on a Stellantis platform.
“With this third successful engagement, Stellantis is further demonstrating its expertise in the commercial vehicle segment and in developing battery electric technology built to support a full range of needs,” says Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. “This agreement strengthens our leadership in the EU30 for LCVs and low emission vehicles and moves us a step closer to realizing our Dare Forward 2030 goal of becoming the undisputed global light commercial vehicle leader, in terms of technology, manufacturing, market share and profitability.”
“We are pleased that we can extend this successful partnership through the introduction of a new large-size commercial van,” also says Matt Harrison, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe. “It represents an important addition and completes our light commercial line-up for Toyota’s European customers. The new LCV will represent a key contribution to Toyota’s growth targets for its overall LCV line-up, alongside the Hilux pick-up, Proace and Proace City, enabling Toyota to provide a mobility solution in all segments of the LCV market.” However, there is no electric version of the Hilux yet.
0 Comments