Stellantis entered into an agreement with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to comply with the state’s aggressive standards for vehicle emissions, and to join in various efforts to grow demand for electric vehicles in line with California’s net-zero carbon emissions goals. The automaker agreed to collaborate in EV awareness efforts, provide discounted EVs to organizations in disadvantaged communities, and contribute an additional $10 million for installation of public EV chargers.
“California’s persistent air pollution and the growing threat of climate change require action and innovation, and our collaboration with Stellantis is an example of the industry partnerships that will further a clean air future,” stated CARB executive officer Dr. Steven Cliff. “Collaborations like this ensure healthier air for Californians and certainty for manufacturers.”
The state’s current requirement is that by 2035 all new passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs sold in California will be zero emission vehicles. It also requires that zero-emission and plug-in hybrid vehicles comprise 68% of all new light-duty vehicle sales in the state by 2030.
Because of its size California vehicle emissions standards have a formative effect on automakers’ product planning. In 2019, Ford, Honda, Volkswagen, and BMW struck an agreement with California to adhere to the California standards.
Stellantis has not joined that agreement but it emphasized that its corporate strategy to expand its EV offerings will contribute to the California program: Globally, Stellantis is investing over €50 billion ($54 billon) in electrification programs, and aims by 2030 to offer only EV passenger vehicles in Europe, and 50% EV passenger car and light-duty truck sales in the U.S.
Currently, Stellantis offers five plug-in hybrids and two battery electric vehicles in the U.S., and plans to introduce eight more EVs this year in the U.S.
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said the California “agreement will avoid 10 to 12 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the lifetime of the agreement, and will also allow our U.S. customers to fully benefit from our advanced technologies, including five plug-in hybrids and two pure electric vehicles.”
