Flexible underpinnings of new big Stellantis vehicles will help company navigate political changes

By TOM KRISHER
AP Auto Writer

DETROIT (AP) — On the surface, the platform beneath a new generation of automobiles has little to do with politics and elections. But at Stellantis, new large vehicle underpinnings announced Friday are key to the company’s ability to adjust to European and U.S. government electric vehicle requirements that could change depending on this year’s elections. CEO Carlos Tavares says the company’s new large platform is flexible enough to handle batteries and electric motors, gas-electric hybrids and internal combustion engines. He says the flexibility is important because policies promoting EVs as a way to fight climate change could be rescinded depending on who is elected U.S. president or to European parliaments this year.