Stellantis Mulling More STLA Medium-based EVs For Malaysia

Stellantis STLA Medium platform. The global automaking giant first revealed it in July this year.

Stellantis is poised to make a bigger push and introduce more electric vehicles (EVs), specifically those based on its latest STLA Medium platform, for Malaysia. This was confirmed by Daniel Gonzalez, Stellantis’s Chief Operating Officer for the ASEAN region, via a recent interview with Car Sifu @ The Star.

“Within STLA Medium, we will have the availability of several types of vehicles including the next generation 3008 and 5008,” said Gonzales to the automotive arm of the national English daily. The exec further adds that the popularity of B- and C-segment vehicles, along with several D-segment offering in between, as key drivers behind this.

Daniel Gonzales (fourth from left), Stellantis COO of ASEAN Region, during the official launch of the Peugeot Landtrek with brand custodians BAuto.

As a refresher, the global automaking giant unveiled its STLA Medium platform back in July this year, promising the best energy efficiency and range in its class. The platform also enables manufacturing of C- and D-segments vehicles across a range of body styles including passenger cars, crossover  SUVs.

Presently, Stellantis has no less than 26 models marketed across both segments using various platforms and through its vast portfolio encompassing 14 brands. Included here are things like the existing Peugeot 3008 and 5008 crossover SUVs.

Aside from versatile and unifying modularity, the STLA Medium platform also boasts a 400-volt charging architecture promising rapid re-charges and up to 700 KM in range.

Moving ahead, the STLA Medium platform will allow Stellantis to enact on its plan to have more battery electric vehicles (BEVs) for the global market. Besides unifying modularity, STLA Medium also uses a 400-volt charging architecture promising rapid 20-80% re-charges under 30 minutes, and up to 700 KM range.

Moreover, Stellantis’s recent RM2 billion investment push into its plant in Gurun, Kedah, is set to accelerate things both locally and regionally. “Stellantis will be here for the long run and not an in-and-out thing. We want to fully utilise our Gurun plant,” added Gonzales regarding this front.

The STLA Medium platform's modular versatility sees Stellantis able to build C- and D-segment vehicles across a wide range of body styles too.

The exec reportedly went on to detail that the firm is entering Malaysia with sizeable investments that can create opportunities valued up to RM5 billion for local businesses, namely the manufacturing and outsourcing sectors.

“If you want to grow in the region, we need to localise production and run things from location. We need to be here with local talents and we are on a recruitment spree. I have been having conversations with the government and other entities about future business,” Gonzales continued further.

We are certain that the recently face-lifted Peugeot e-2008 will be amongst the first of many STLA Medium-based EVs to enter the Malaysia starting next year via brand custodians BAuto.

Aptly, the intent to have more products, and the prospects of localising them, are clear. Additionally, through the efforts of BAuto, custodians of Stellantis’s core Peugeot brand, the all-electric and recently face-lifted e-2008 is thought to be amongst the first planned for launch in 2024.