Stellantis phasing out plug‑in hybrid auto programs in North America
CBC
Stellantis says it will phase out plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) programs in North America beginning with the 2026 model year.
The decision to end production of the plug-in hybrid Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chrysler Pacifica is in response to “customer demand shifting,” according to a spokesperson for the automaker.
Stellantis will "focus on more competitive electrified solutions, including hybrid and range‑extended vehicles where they best meet customer needs,” LouAnn Gosselin said in an emailed statement to CBC Windsor.
“This approach reinforces the company’s commitment to offering advanced propulsion systems that maximize efficiency and provide options from internal combustion to hybrid, range‑extended, and fully electric solutions.”
PHEVs feature traditional internal combustion engines, but also have an all-electric range when charged like an electric vehicle.
The Stellantis announcement comes weeks after the release of its 2025 numbers that show Canadian sales of the Chrysler Pacifica and Grand Caravan rose significantly compared to 2024.
Sales of the Caravan jumped 30 per cent on a yearly basis, while Pacifica sales soared 95 per cent, driving "impressive" overall growth for the Chrysler brand, the company said.
One automotive industry expert believes the change in emissions regulations by the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump played a major role in the decision by Stellantis.
Trump has proposed slashing fuel economy standards that then President Joe Biden had finalized in 2024, in a push to make it easier for automakers to sell gasoline-powered cars.
Sam Fiorani, vice-president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions, said the fact manufacturers no longer have to pay for overages on their carbon output means companies like Stellantis don't have to build plug-in hybrids.
But Fiorani is of the opinion that Stellantis phasing out its plug‑in hybrid programs will have little to no impact on jobs at its Windsor plant.
“The demand for minivans from the Windsor plant is fairly steady. There are only a couple players in this field. It's only Honda, Toyota, Kia and Chrysler, so Stellantis is likely to build the same number of vehicles,” he told CBC News.
“They only built 8,800 plug-in hybrids last year, and that part of the capacity of that plant will very likely just build a standard Pacifica going forward.
“I don't think the elimination of the PHEV version of the Pacifica [will] lower the output of the plant [by] any significant amount,” added Fiorani.
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Stellantis says it will phase out plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) programs in North America beginning with the 2026 model year.
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