Stellantis shuns buying regulatory credits, evolves lineup

Stellantis isn't leaning on regulatory credits to comply with emissions rules.

That strategy was a relic of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles era when the automaker was a regular buyer of Tesla credits, which proved to be a profitable enterprise for the EV maker.

But things are different under the leadership of Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, who isn't allowing the automaker "to ever buy a single credit," said Tim Kuniskis, CEO of the Dodge and Ram brands.

"It's not even a topic of discussion," Kuniskis said Thursday during a fireside chat at the Wolfe Research Global Auto and Auto Tech Conference. "We don't buy credits, we're not buying credits, we're not going to do that.

"Not having that mental safety blanket really forces you to self regulate, it forces you to make the tough calls, and we literally adjust our plans on a monthly basis based on where we see the trajectory of compliance."

The goal, Kuniskis said, is to be on a "trajectory towards the long-term compliance."

The evolution of Ram is a prime example of the new approach with Stellantis.

If the automaker still had the "safety blanket" with the credits, Kuniskis said the company would likely still be putting the HEMI V-8 engine in the 1500.

The brand dropped the famed HEMI from the refreshed 2025 model in favor of the Hurricane engine family that Stellantis says delivers enhanced fuel economy and fewer emissions, while generating more horsepower and torque than other naturally aspirated V-8 and boosted six-cylinder engines in the light-duty segment.

The pickup will offer standard and high-output variants of the twin-turbocharged 3-liter Hurricane inline-six engine along with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 eTorque. The standard Hurricane is rated at 420 hp and 469 pound-feet of torque, while the high-output engine — which tops the HEMI by 145 hp and 110 pound-feet of torque — is rated at 540 hp and 521 pound-feet.

Looking ahead, Kuniskis said Stellantis has the platform flexibility that will allow the company to adapt to regulatory environments where it operates.

Kuniskis said the new STLA Large platform will underpin models such as the electric Jeep Wagoneer S that debuts this year, but also will have the ability to support traditional gasoline models. STLA Large is one of four platforms the automaker is rolling out, joining the STLA Small, STLA Medium and STLA Frame layouts.

Stellantis plans to launch eight vehicles on STLA Large through 2026, beginning in North America this year with Dodge and Jeep. It will serve as a foundation for a varied mix of vehicles from Alfa Romeo, Chrysler and Maserati. The platform can handle real-wheel drive, front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive.

Kuniskis said the platform will underpin a two-door muscle coupe, four-door performance sedan and a utility vehicle for Dodge. In addition, the platform will support utility vehicles for Alfa Romeo and Chrysler.

"That one platform, with essentially one set of [electric drive modules ] and two ICE engines has the ability to cover over 30 percent of the industry," Kuniskis said.

"All those different combinations, all those different brands, all those different customer profiles that allow you to expand the adoption of that one platform, and the ability to flex between those technologies not across multiple cars or platforms, but flex between those technologies within one platform, one manufacturing footprint, one supplier base — depending on whichever way the regulations go — we can flex it in that direction."