The facility’s upgrades should be completed in the first quarter 2023.
Stellantis believes that electric power is the future of automotive, but gasoline is still available. The conglomerate announced a $24.7 million investment in the Trenton, Michigan assembly facility that produces 3.6-liter V6 engine.
The V6 is used in many vehicles, including Ram and Chrysler. The DOHC naturally aspirated engine is used as an entry-level engine in models such as the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger. It can produce 305 horsepower (227 Kilowatts) or 269 pound-feet (356 Newton-meters), respectively, in the Ram 150. This engine is available on almost every Stellantis model, and the investment suggests that it will last at least a few years.
Two facilities make up the Trenton, Michigan engine plant. The upgrades will focus on the south facility, which when completed will be the sole location for engine production. Since its 2011 launch, multiple versions of the Pentastar engine are in production. An upgraded version was launched in 2016. Both engine designs will be possible with the retooling and production at the same location.
The original Pentastar design remains in production. It will be available at Trenton through 2023. The upgraded version will be produced at the south plant by spring 2023. The north facility will remain in storage, and be used for non-production activities.
The large investment in gasoline engine production is part of a paradigm shift by automakers towards electric power. Many companies have committed to having fully or partial electric lineups by 2030, 2035. Stellantis, an company, announced earlier this year its Dare Forward 2030 program . It calls for 100 percent electric vehicle sales in Europe and 50 per cent in the United States.
Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, stated that “Dare Forward 2030 is an inspiration to us to be so much more than ever before.” We are expanding our vision and breaking down the boundaries. This new mindset seeks to improve all aspects of mobility for the benefit of our families, communities and societies.